Head of Horticultural Department Receives American Society for Horticultural Science Leadership and Administration Award


Russell cothren

The American Society for Horticultural Science has named Wayne Mackay, Head of the Horticultural Department of the Agriculture Systems Division at the University of Alberta, as the recipient of the 2021 Award for Outstanding Leadership and Administration.

The American Society for Horticultural Science has named Wayne Mackay, Head of the Horticultural Department of the Agriculture Systems Division at the University of Alberta, as the recipient of the 2021 Award for Outstanding Leadership and Administration.

Mackay heads the horticulture department for the two branches of the division of agriculture, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences in the ‘University of Alberta.

An ASHS statement says the Outstanding Leadership and Administration award recognizes sustainable and effective leadership and administration that contributes to the advancement of professional horticulture and has impact at the regional or national level.

“The American Society for Horticultural Science’s honor for outstanding leadership and administration is recognition of what we see Wayne Mackay doing every day,” said Mark Cochran, vice president of agriculture for System U of A. “The energy and excellence he invests each day in the horticultural department is reflected in the exceptional research and extension work that his faculties do in Arkansas and across the country. industry.”

“I can’t think of a leader more deserving of this award than Wayne,” said Dean Deacue Fields of Bumpers College. “He has done a great job as head of department and he is well respected throughout the university and his profession. He has created an exemplary culture in the horticulture department, he inspires his faculty and prepares our students for rewarding careers.

“It is special whenever you are honored by your professional organization, and I am pleased that ASHS has recognized your continued leadership and service,” said Fields. “I am proud to have Wayne on our management team.”

Mackay arrived in Arkansas as the head of the horticulture department and professor of horticulture in 2014. From 2018 to 2019, he also served as the acting department head for food science.

He received a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech, a master’s degree in plant science from the University of Delaware, and a doctorate in horticulture from the University of Maryland.

Mackay began his career in horticulture as a producer of specialty plants and worked for a nursery while still in college. After obtaining his doctorate, he began his research career as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station-El Paso in 1991. He was promoted to associate professor at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station-Dallas in 1997.

He became associate resident director of the station in 2003 and was promoted to professor there in 2005.

In 2007, Mackay joined the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences as a professor and director of the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center. In 2013, he became professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida-IFAS, holding that position for a year before joining the Division of Agriculture and Bumpers College.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture’s research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch.

To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit https://uaex.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.

To learn more about the Agriculture Division, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Agriculture Division

The mission of the University of Arkansas Agriculture Systems Division is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting reliable research with adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Agriculture Division conducts research and extension work within the historical education system of land grants in the country.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities in the University of Arkansas system. It has offices in all 75 counties of Arkansas and faculty on five campuses in the system.

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture System offers all of its extension and research programs and services regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information or any other status protected by law, and is an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer.


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