Owens joins Oklahoma State
STILLWATER, Okla. -- M. Keith Owens has been appointed head of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource's department of natural resource ecology and management, effective Aug. 1.
The department of natural resource ecology and management conducts interdisciplinary research, instruction and extension education to address the sustainable management and conservation of the fishery, forest, rangeland and wildlife resources of Oklahoma and beyond.
“Dr. Owens’ leadership experience as well as his applied ecological research programs and successful extramural funding record make him uniquely qualified for department head. He brings a wealth of land-grant experience and an outstanding record of accomplishments and leadership to the position,” said Robert E. Whitson, vice president, dean and director of agricultural programs at OSU. “We are very pleased that he is joining our agricultural leadership team.”
As department head, Owens will provide leadership for planning, developing, integrating and implementing departmental teaching, research, extension and international programs; diversity efforts of the department to recruit and retain outstanding faculty, staff and students; and the pursuit of competitive grants, research contracts, gifts and other special funding to include endowments for scholarships, fellowships and chairs and professorships.
Owens comes to OSU from the Texas A&M System, where he served in several important leadership roles for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station since 1987. Much of his research has focused on sustainable use of natural resources. Owens has served as editor-in-chief of Rangeland Ecology & Management, since 2004.
He is a member of the Society for Range Management, Ecological Society of America, Botanical Society of America and the American Geophysical Union.
Owens earned his doctoral degree in range science from Utah State University in 1987 and his master’s degree in range management from the University of Wyoming in 1981. He earned a bachelor’s degree in forest management in 1977 and a bachelor’s degree in range management in 1977, both from the University of Idaho.
