New chair chosen for Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences — from tropical Hawaii to sunny Florida

Press release from UF/IFAS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An expert in soil ecology and biogeochemistry at the University of Hawaii-Manoa has been named chair of the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) at the University of Florida. 

Susan Crow, a professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management at UH-Manoa, will lead SWES.  

Rob Gilbert, dean for research and executive director for academic affairs at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) said Crow’s ability to garner grant funding made a great impression.  

“Crow impressed us with her record of leading efforts to parlay $80,000 in internal University of Hawaii seed funding into more than $40 million in multiple U.S. Department of Agriculture grants,” Gilbert said. “She has also distinguished herself with the way she has incorporated producer voices and other stakeholder input into a research and Extension agenda.” 

As chair, Crow will lead 43 faculty who work in Gainesville and at 11 research locations across Florida.