Colleagues,
I am delighted to announce two interim leadership appointments for Texas A&M AgriLife, effective Sept 1.
Ambassador Eric Bost, interim director for the Borlaug Institute
Ambassador Eric Bost, retired, has accepted the role of interim director of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture. He will step into the role previously held by Dr. Elsa Murano, who was recently appointed Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Academic Initiatives for Texas A&M AgriLife.
Ambassador Bost brings to his new role an exceptional understanding of the international issues involved in food and agriculture as well as extensive experience with the Borlaug Institute. For more information on his professional background, read more at AgriLife Today. A national search for the permanent Director of the Borlaug Institute will commence later this year.
Matt Baker, Ph.D., interim head for Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences
Please join me in thanking Dr. Scott Shafer for his leadership and commitment in serving as head of the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Since his appointment to department head in 2016, Dr. Shafer has effectively led the department through a strategic visioning process to position the department for future success and was critical during the search for his replacement. Before being appointed to that position, Scott served the department for six years as associate head and for two decades as associate professor and professor. He has also served as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist and is a Senior Schob Scholar. For the next year, Dr. Shafer will take faculty development leave while collaborating with practitioners in public space and park planning and design before returning to the faculty.
To fill Dr. Shafer’s role, Dr. Matt Baker, head of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, ALEC, will lead RPTS in the interim. As he continues to lead ALEC, we are very thankful that Dr. Baker will provide leadership to program faculty, staff and students in RPTS during this moment of transition.
Again, please join me in thanking Dr. Shafer for his exceptional leadership and Dr. Baker for leading the department during the interim as the ongoing search for a new department head finalizes.
Thank you,
Patrick J. Stover, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor, Texas A&M AgriLife
Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research