UA department chief gets new job

FAYETTEVILLE -- Rick Bennett, head of the University of Arkansas department of plant pathology, will leave UA to become director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and associate dean for research at the University of Kentucky's agricultural college.

Bennett, who has been at UA since 2009, takes on his new duties June 1, according to an announcement from the University of Kentucky.

"I'm passionate about research, and I am very excited to have this opportunity to join the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment," Bennett said in a statement released by the University of Kentucky.

In 2011, Bennett was one of five finalists to lead the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, a part of the University of Arkansas System's statewide Division of Agriculture. Clarence Watson was named as station director in January 2012.

Before joining UA, Bennett held various positions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, including national program leader for plant health.

Bennett earns $185,822 in gross salary at UA, with part of his salary paid for by UA and part paid by the UA System's Division of Agriculture.

He will earn $196,240 in salary at the University of Kentucky, plus an administrative stipend of $26,760, according to Laura Skillman, director of the University of Kentucky's Agricultural Communications Services.

Metro on 03/28/2015

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