Geoffrey Dahl appointed chairman of UF animal sciences department

By:
Tom Nordlie (352) 392-0400

Source(s):
Geoffrey Dahl gdahl@ufl.edu, 352-392-1981
Jimmy Cheek jgcheek@ufl.edu, 352-392-1971

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Bovine reproductive endocrinologist Geoffrey Dahl, a professor of animal sciences with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, has been appointed chairman of the University of Florida’s animal sciences department. The appointment became effective July 28.

Dahl succeeds Glen Hembry, a UF animal sciences professor who became chairman in 2000 when the department was created by merging UF’s animal, poultry and dairy science programs. Hembry also led the animal science program from 1990 to 2000.

As chairman, Dahl will initially focus his energies on enhancing the department’s teaching, research and extension programs in beef cattle, dairy cattle and equine production.

“One of the things that will be a help to me is, I have experience in all three mission areas of the department – research, teaching and extension,” Dahl said. “We’re already recognized as one of the top 10 (animal sciences) departments in the country, but there’s a real opportunity for us to be recognized as the best in the country.”

Jimmy Cheek, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, said he was impressed by Dahl’s experience and vision.

“We believe that through his leadership we will build on our strengths and achieve even greater successes in the future,” Cheek said. “Dr. Dahl will help this become one of the best departments in the world.”

Dahl is perhaps best known for his work on the effects of photoperiod – the amount of daylight in a 24-hour day – on milk production, growth and health in dairy cattle.

His other interests include food security, the effect of milking frequency on lactation, and mastitis, an inflammatory disease that reduces milk production in dairy cattle.

Prior to his UF appointment, Dahl was a faculty member with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign’s animal sciences department from 2000 to mid-2006. While at UI he was named director of the Cross Campus Food Security Initiative and an affiliate of the university’s Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, which cultivates cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.

From 1994 to 2000 he was a faculty member with the University of Maryland’s animal and avian sciences department, and also served as the department’s undergraduate coordinator. He began his professional career as a research fellow with the University of Michigan’s reproductive sciences program, from 1991 to 1994.

Dahl received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Massachusetts in 1985, a master’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1987 and a doctorate in animal science from Michigan State University in 1991.

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Posted: September 7, 2006


Category: UF/IFAS



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