Professorships
Professorships
Philip Morris Professor
2024-2027 Philip Morris Professor: Dr. Andy Bailey
Previous Phillip Morris Professor: Dr. Bob Pearce. 2018-2024
This prestigious endowed professorship is awarded to faculty who have made substantial contributions to the advancement of tobacco research and extension.
Dr. Andy Bailey serves dark, burley, and cigar wrapper tobacco growers in the dark tobacco production area of western Kentucky and northwestern Tennessee. He has conducted over 700 research trials (over 100 in private grower fields) focusing on transplant production, variety development, tillage, pest and sucker control, pesticide efficacy and residue, and harvest efficiency, as well as curing studies focused on harm reduction in raw cured leaf. Dr. Bailey has published 36 refereed journal articles and over 30 extension publications.
“The emphasis of my extension and research program is to support tobacco growers with unbiased production information to allow them to be as competitive as possible.”
He serves as the lead editor of the multi-state extension publication “Burley and Dark Tobacco Production Guide” and also serves as the representative for all U.S. tobacco growers on the Food & Drug Administration’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.
S. Lawrence and Elizabeth Ritchey Yost Lea Professorship in Plant and Soil Sciences
2023-2026 Yost Lea Professor: Dr. Carrie Knott
Previous Yost Lea Professor: Dr. Chad Lee, 2020-2023
This is an endowed professorship established by Elizabeth Ritchey Yost Lea.
The Yost Lea Professorship is awarded to a faculty member who:
- Is tenured and holds the rank of Associate or Full Professor;
- Has research interests clearly linked to plant and soil science with emphasis first on wheat or white corn, or second, other grain crops;
- Is recognized as an outstanding leader in the area of plant and soil science;
- Contributes to the advancement of new knowledge; and
- Has a strong research program underway involving other faculty, staff, and students of the university.
John H. Heick Professorship in Soil Science
2023-2026 John H. Heick Professor: Dr. Chris Matocha
Previous John H. Heick Professor: Dr. Ole Wendroth, 2020-2023
Established by Betty Jo Denton Heick, the Heick Professorship is awarded to a faculty member who:
- Conducts research in an area of soil sciences;
- Is recognized as an outstanding leader in that field;
- Contributes to the advancement of new knowledge; and
- Has a strong research program underway involving other faculty, staff, and students.
Harold R. Burton Endowed Professorship in Plant Biochemistry
2023-2026 Harold R. Burton Professor: Dr. Luke Moe
Previous Burton Professor: Dr. Luke Moe, 2020-2023
This professorship is endowed by the donation of shares of Star Scientific, Inc. The Burton Professorship is awarded to a faculty member who:
- Conducts research in the area of plant biochemistry;
- Is recognized as an outstanding leader in that field;
- Contributes to the advancement of new knowledge; and
- Has a strong research program underway involving other faculty, staff and students.
