Will officially begin role in March 2015
Farms.com
For 23 years, Dr. Raymond Porter, or “Raymie” as he’s known, spent his time at the University of Minnesota’s North Central Research/Outreach Centre in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. While there, his responsibilities included the project on wild rice breeding, researched agronomy, seeds, and others.
Now, he is set to start a new challenge.
As of March 9, 2015, he’ll take over as new director of Huntington University’s Institute for Agricultural Studies.
Getting its start in fall of 2014, HU’s Institute for Agricultural Studies combines agriculture and Christian views. It acknowledges a responsibility to be good caretakers of the Earth and ask questions of sustainability and justice; an outlook Porter hopes to continue with.
“My vision is that Huntington University’s IAS would become a center of excellence in teaching agriculture from a Christian perspective,” Porter said. “I am excited about the work ahead, and I look forward to joining Huntington to nurture the IAS to produce new crops of Christians who are prepared for the world of agriculture.”
Porter brings with him a very educated background.
He received his Ph.D. in plant breeding with minors in entomology and international agriculture from Cornell, Masters of Arts in science and religion from Biola University, and a Bachelor of Science in biology, focusing on human needs and global resources from Wheaton College.
He holds a membership within the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, National Association of Plant Breeders, American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Evangelical Philosophical Society, and is a co-author on over 100 articles.
“After a national search, we are very excited to welcome Dr. Porter as the director of HU’s new Institute for Agricultural Studies,” said Dr. Mike Wanous, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university. “With his previous position in research at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Porter brings a wealth of experience in agriculture. He has a strong background in working with farmers and service providers in the agricultural sector.”
HU’s agribusiness program, slated to enroll in 2015, hopes to meet the growing need for professionals including agrimanagement, agrimarketing, and small business management among other objectives.