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Dear readers,
I am pleased to welcome you to this issue of Louisiana Agriculture and to have the opportunity to introduce myself. On Aug. 1, I began my appointment as the interim vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture at LSU. This appointment comes after earning two graduate degrees from LSU and spending 18 years in various faculty and administrative positions here. It is a privilege to serve the statewide agricultural community in this capacity, and I look forward to listening, learning and leading.
The LSU AgCenter and the College of Agriculture together constitute the lion’s share of agricultural research, extension and teaching functions conducted through the LSU System. Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the state and is, accordingly, one of the most significant parts of LSU’s overall mission. LSU President William F. Tate IV recently announced the Scholarship First pentagon of priorities, and agriculture is front and center in the plan. The agricultural enterprise is critical to the state, and it is an essential part of LSU’s impact on the state, nation and world.
Our top-flight faculty relentlessly engage in scientific innovation to develop new crop varieties, understand and manage soil and water quality, limit the detrimental impacts of invasive plants and animals, and ensure maximum, healthy yields. As importantly, our cooperative extension work serves as a vehicle to translate scientific innovations to the producers who provide us with food security and grow our economy. This system is robust, efficient and impactful. We have a longstanding tradition of serving our constituents, and this year we seek to amplify that impact for the betterment of our great state. If there are ways we can better serve you, please do not hesitate to reach out and let us know.
Sincerely,
Matt Lee
Matt Lee is the interim vice president for agriculture and interim dean of the LSU College of Agriculture.
This article appeared in the summer 2022 issue of Louisiana Agriculture.
Matt Lee, interim vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture at LSU. Photo by Katherine Seghers
