Swihart	Engel

Two interim department heads have been selected to fill those positions on a permanent basis: Bernie Engel in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Rob Swihart in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

“I’m thrilled both Dr. Engel and Dr. Swihart have agreed to become heads of their departments,” says Dean of Purdue Agriculture Randy Woodson. “Both have been outstanding leaders in the interim, and each was the clear choice for their respective search committees. We are very fortunate within the college to cultivate our own leadership talent, and Bernie and Rob represent two of our finest.”

Engel, a faculty member since 1988 and interim department head since July, replaces Vince Bralts, who moved to the College of Engineering.

“With the fantastic faculty and staff on board, moving from professor to interim department head was very easy,” Engel says. “I hope the transition to full-time department head is just as smooth.”

Woodson says: “Bernie brings a wealth of experience to the position in discovery, learning and engagement. As a University Faculty Scholar, Bernie reflects the best of our faculty. I am very excited about the future of ABE, as the disciplines represented within the department play such a critical role in the College of Agriculture’s strategic goals.”

The department offers majors in agricultural systems management, agricultural and biological engineering (ranked No. 1 in the country in 2003 by U.S. News & World Report), and biological and food process engineering. The graduate program, with 77 students enrolled, is consistently recognized by its peers as one of the top three programs in the United States.

Like Engel, Swihart had been interim department head since July, when he replaced Dennis LeMaster, who retired.

The FNR department has a national and international reputation for research in forest ecology and management, genetics, and wildlife ecology.

“It is an honor and a privilege to lead this department,” Swihart says. “We have a tremendous group of faculty, staff and students, and I’m excited to have this opportunity.”

Woodson says: “Rob has been a tremendous asset to Purdue Agriculture since returning as a faculty member in 1991. (He earned his BS from Purdue in 1975). I look forward to working with him to move the department into a leading position in forestry and natural resources worldwide.”

Contact Engel at engelb@purdue.edu

Contact Swihart at rswihart@purdue.edu