Steve Johnson will step up as the interim chair of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC), effective Friday.
Johnson, a WEC professor, succeeds Eric Hellgren, who served in the role for 12 years during which he oversaw the department’s rise to become one of the world’s top academic wildlife departments. He will remain at WEC as a faculty member for a year and will then retire.
Johnson has been a WEC faculty member for more than 20 years, beginning his UF/IFAS career at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ (CALS) Plant City location as a natural resources conservation instructor. He’s a longtime Gator, having earned his Ph.D. from WEC.
“Dr. Johnson’s expertise and leadership abilities will help guide the department forward, especially given his deep institutional knowledge of WEC and UF/IFAS,” said Robert Gilbert, UF/IFAS dean for research and executive director for academic affairs.
Johnson’s role in UF/IFAS Extension focuses on invasive vertebrates. As a state Extension specialist, he communicates research-based science for a wide range of residents in the U.S. and internationally.
He’s been recognized internationally, nationally, via wildlife professional organizations as well as UF awards, such as being named the UF CALS Undergraduate Teacher of the Year for the 2017-2018 academic year. His service to UF has included serving on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, as well as numerous college- and unit-level committees.
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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