APOPKA, Fla. — Roger Kjelgren, who has spent decades as a professor of horticulture at Utah State University, has been named the new director of the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, Florida. The center is part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Kjelgren, who begins his position in mid-August, focuses his research on water conservation and irrigation landscape. Specifically, he studies how much water plants need to create a low-usage landscape.
Kjelgren said he is looking forward to a new experience. “I had a successful career at Utah State and accomplished my teaching and research goals,” he said. “Now, I will focus on linking agriculture and horticulture production to meet urban needs for creating sustainable landscapes. The Mid-Florida REC is really well-situated to accomplish that.”
The researcher brings the right amount of experience and passion to the new position, said Jack Payne, UF’s senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources. “Dr. Kjelgren is on the cutting edge of current research to encourage sustainable urban landscaping that also acknowledges our need to conserve water,” he said.
Kjelgren earned a bachelor’s degree in soil science from Washington State University, a master’s in soil science from Oregon State University and a doctorate in forestry from the University of Washington. During his tenure at Utah State, he was a Jefferson Science Fellow for the U.S. Department of State Office of Intelligence and Research; was named a Fulbright Scholar and taught at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand; and was director of the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping.
“I want to create a culture of respect and excellence with my colleagues at Mid-Florida REC and help them adapt to a changing environment,” Kjelgren said. “Horticulture used to be heavy foliage production, but that has been reduced in recent years. We want to create sustainable urban landscapes that connect with horticulture production that meets a full variety of needs.”
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By: Beverly James, 352-273-3566, beverlymjames@ufl.edu
Sources: Jack Payne, 352-392-1971, jackpayne@ufl.edu
Roger Kjelgren, 435- 797-2972, roger.kjelgren@usu.edu
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