4 named department leaders

Purdue Agriculture recently named two new and two interim department heads.

Chris W. Sigurdson, MS ’03, is head of the Department of Agricultural Communication, and Patrick D. Smoker is head of the Department of Agriculture Information Technology.

“Chris and Pat are seasoned professionals who bring a great combination of experience and innovation to their respective departments,” says Randy Woodson, interim dean of agriculture.

Sigurdson, a Purdue staff member since 1991, served as interim head of the Department of Agricultural Communication for five years. Prior to that he was the department’s news and public affairs coordinator.

“I’m a big believer in Purdue’s land-grant mission,” Sigurdson says. “I see our job as helping people tap into the university and its expertise. We do that by using the best practices of communication and innovative technology.”

Purdue Agricultural Communication develops publications, Web sites, news releases, interactive exhibits, CDs, DVDs and other communication products for Purdue Agriculture.

“Purdue Ag Communication has become one of the premiere services of its kind,” Woodson says. “Our ability to offer unbiased, research-driven information during times of agricultural emergencies and calm is due in part to Chris’ leadership.”

Smoker began his career at Purdue in 1986 and joined Purdue Agriculture in 1991. He was interim head of Agriculture Information Technology (AgIT) for three years. Prior to accepting the interim position he served as operations manager for the department.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work with an extraordinary group of individuals here in AgIT as we identify, implement and sustain technology to help Purdue agriculture reach out and serve the citizens of Indiana,” Smoker says.

AgIT provides Web-based application development and multimedia and database expertise to Purdue Agriculture and Purdue Extension

statewide.

The department also is responsible for computer support and research and development of new technology.

Woodson says, “Pat and his colleagues have grown our technological infrastructure significantly, making our connectivity statewide much more reliable and secure.”

Rob Swihart, a faculty member at Purdue since 1991, was appointed interim head of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. Swihart, a professor, replaces Dennis LeMaster, who retired.

Bernie Engel will lead the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering as interim department head. Engel has been a Purdue professor since 1988. He replaces Vince Bralts, now the associate dean of resource planning and management in Purdue’s College of Engineering.