Highlights:
- Dean Pringle has been appointed chair of the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, bringing decades of leadership, research and industry experience to support Florida’s animal agriculture, students, and stakeholders.
- Pringle has an extensive background in research, teaching and stakeholder engagement, including securing major research funding and advancing animal agriculture across Florida.
Dean Pringle has been selected as the new chair of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Department of Animal Sciences.
Pringle, who is currently the director of the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy, Marianna, and Live Oak, Florida, said as a fifth-generation Floridian, he understands how essential the beef, dairy, equine, small ruminant and animal products industries are to the state.
“First and foremost, we have to support our Florida stakeholders, including our students, and provide them with the knowledge needed for continued success,” he said. “They are our future, so whether it is through applied and basic research, classroom and experiential learning or problem-solving on our farms and ranches, we must commit our best for the next generation of Florida’s animal agriculture.”
He said he’s excited to renew his passion for working with students and investing in their professional growth.
“Dr. Pringle has a biography, experience in all three mission areas and well-developed stakeholder relationships that point to success leading this complex department,” said Rob Gilbert, UF/IFAS dean for research and executive director for academic affairs.
He grew up on a beef cattle family farm in Immokalee, Florida and comes to the department with deep knowledge of Florida’s cattle industry. A graduate of UF, Pringle earned his bachelor’s and master’s from UF’s Department of Animal Sciences in the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
He went on to be a professor at the University of Georgia before joining UF. During his time teaching at UGA, he taught various animal sciences courses, including the favorite among students: The All-American Hot Dog, a class that taught about the history, the cultural and economic value and the technical process from beginning to end of making a hot dog.
He worked as a professor of animal and dairy science before becoming director of the NFREC in 2023.
In the three years as director, Pringle has helped the center receive state funding for renovation and expansion, secured a $10 million multi-state research grant and earned numerous faculty awards. He hopes to continue that momentum of diversified funding and faculty achievement in his department.
He is highly respected by industry stakeholders and has built a close relationship with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association through a shared vision for the future of Florida’s animal industries.
His research has included collaborations with other universities and USDA partners, demonstrating a focus on industry challenges, Gilbert said.
Gilbert said he is grateful to Jay Ferrell for serving as interim chair of the department while also serving as chair of the Department of Agronomy and director of the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
###
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.
0
