Center begins leadership transition

The Center has a new interim director, ISU Distinguished Professor and animal scientist Allen Trenkle. Trenkle will fulfill the duties of Dennis Keeney, who retired December 31, until a new director is named by Iowa State University President Martin Jischke. Trenkle, a member of the Center's advisory board since 1989, was named to the interim post in December.

Also in December, agricultural economist Mike Duffy resigned as the Center's associate director. He had been with the Center since 1991 while working with extension and outreach programs in the ISU Department of Economics.

"Iowa agriculture in general, and the Leopold Center in particular, have greatly benefited from Mike Duffy's work," said Jeri Neal, who coordinates the Center's competitive grants program.

"His research and perspectives on the economic aspects of agricultural sustainability have been invaluable in helping to frame meaningful questions and conduct successful research, education, and demonstration projects," she added. "Although we will miss him, we appreciate Mike's outstanding service."

Neal serves on an 11-member search committee that began on-campus interviews in January of five finalists for the Center director. Also serving on the search committee are advisory board members Kurt Johnson, Mary Jane Olney, Jim Penney and Robert Sayre. Board member Wendy Wintersteen chairs the committee.

The Leopold Center Advisory Board will consider the search committee's recommendations in forwarding three candidates to President Jischke, who will make the final appointment.

A new director had not been named as of press time.