“He brings a strong research background to this job plus classroom teaching experience and a record of leadership in our extension and outreach program,” said Dr. William B. “Bill” Richardson, LSU AgCenter chancellor.

Boethel, who has been with the AgCenter for nearly 30 years, has been in his current position since 2001. He was promoted to assistant director in 1997 and has continued his appointment as a professor of entomology.

Boethel has received international recognition for this research on insect pest management. More recently, he has led efforts to stop the spread of the Formosan subterranean termite and red imported fire ant in Louisiana and expand mosquito abatement to help tackle the threat of West Nile virus.

He replaces Dr. William H. Brown, who will be retiring after three years as vice chancellor and more than 28 years at LSU.

A native of Weimar , Texas , Boethel received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Texas A&M University in College Station . He was awarded the Ph.D. in entomology from Oklahoma State University in 1974.

Before moving to the Baton Rouge campus in 1980, Boethel was at the LSU AgCenter's Pecan Research Station in Shreveport .

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Contact:  David Boethel at (225) 578-4182, or dboethel@agcenter.lsu.edu
Writer:     Linda Foster Benedict at (225) 578-2937, or lbenedict@agcenter.lsu.edu