Professorships
Philip Morris Professor
2018-2024 Dr. Bob Pearce, has been named a Philip Morris Professor. This prestigious endowed professorship is awarded to faculty who have made substantial contributions to the advancement of tobacco research and extension. Pearce has designed and implemented applied field trials on many aspects of burley tobacco production including float plant production, fertilization, conservation tillage, and chemical topping. He has conducted over 200 on-farm trials or demonstrations in 76 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The knowledge and experience gained in these trials has been used to develop numerous extension presentations and publications. “The goal of my program is to support tobacco growers with high quality information to help produce high quality burley tobacco as efficiently as possible” says Pearce. He also serves as the lead editor of the multi-state extension publication “Burley and Dark Tobacco Production Guide” and is Editor in Chief of the journal Tobacco Science.
S. Lawrence and Elizabeth Ritchey Yost Lea Professorship in Plant and Soil Sciences
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.
Dr. Chad Lee - 2020-2023 Yost Lea Professor
Previous Yost Lea Professor, Dr. Chad Lee 2017-2020
John H. Heick Professorship in Soil Science
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.
Dr. Ole Wendroth - 2020-2023 John H. Heick Professor
Previous John H. Heick Professor, Dr. Ole Wendroth 2017-2020
Harold R. Burton Endowed Professorship in Plant Biochemistry
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.
Dr. Luke Moe - 2020-2023 Harold R. Burton Professor
Previous Burton Professor, Dr. Ling Yuan 2017-2020