Weed scientist Bob Scott, who most recently was director of the University of Arkansas’ Newport Extension Center, was appointed director of the university’s Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas. He replaces Nathan McKinney, who had served as interim director.
Scott will officially assume his duties as director of the Rice Research Center April 1.
In a news release, Rick Cartwright, director of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, said, “Bob has done an outstanding job as Arkansas’ Extension weed specialist for more than 15 years. He’s an exceptional technical specialist and research scientist, and his first-rate leadership at the Lonoke and Newport Extension centers has prepared him to take on this new leadership role at Stuttgart.
“Arkansas is the leading rice-producing state in the United States, and the Rice Research and Extension Center is the leading center for rice research. I think Bob is the right person at the right time to lead it.”
Before joining the Division of Agriculture, Scott worked four years as a technical service representative at American Cyanamide and one year for BASF, which acquired the company during his time there. He was part of the team that developed Clearfield Rice.
Since joining the university, Scott has been based at the Lonoke Extension Center and also spent time at the Newport center. He said about 50 percent of his work has been related to rice.
“I have enjoyed my time at Lonoke and Newport and working with everyone at the Little Rock State Office, and I look forward to new challenges and opportunities at the Rice Research and Extension Center,” he says.
Scott already has a hand in the division’s rice breeding program, where he has worked with senior rice breeder Karen Moldenhauer and is a co-author on her CL 172 research.
Earlier this year, Scott was elected to a one-year term as president of the Southern Weed Science Society at the group’s annual meeting.