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* Purdue Agriculture

March 23, 2009

Foster named head of Department of Agricultural Economics

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -
Ken Foster
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Ken Foster, a professor of agricultural economics and Purdue University alumnus, has been named head of Purdue's Department of Agricultural Economics.

Jay Akridge, Purdue's Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, announced the appointment Monday (March 23). Foster has served as the department's interim head since August 2008. He leads a department that offers seven academic majors, conducts research and serves Indiana residents through Extension-related activities.

There are 45 faculty members, 480 undergraduate students and 120 graduate students in the Department of Agricultural Economics, which is part of Purdue's College of Agriculture.

"Ken brings a wealth of experience to the position and has a deep respect for all missions of our college and the department," Akridge said. "It is an exciting time for the Department of Agricultural Economics, and I am looking forward to working with Ken to help the department continue to build on its reputation for excellence."

Foster specializes in production economics and the marketing of livestock products. His research has included an analysis of investment and supply in the United States beef cattle industry, measuring technical change in agriculture and testing for separability in agricultural production functions. He teaches courses on applied economics.

"The past six months as interim department head have been a wonderful experience and have only increased my faith in the faculty and staff in Agricultural Economics to deliver on the promise of the land-grant mission," Foster said. "I look forward to continuing to help members of our department use their skills and capabilities to better serve the people of the state of Indiana."

A native of Wheatfield, Ind., Foster earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural education from Purdue. Following graduation, Foster spent three years in Central America as a Peace Corps volunteer. He earned master's and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Georgia and University of California-Davis, respectively. Foster became a Purdue faculty member in 1990.

Foster has received two separate awards for research and outreach efforts from the Gamma Sigma Delta honor society. He also received the Purdue Agriculture Graduate Educator Award in 2006, the Cooperative Extension Service Association Award and the Dean's Team Award.

For more information on the Department of Agricultural Economics and its Extension programs, visit https://www.agecon.purdue.edu

Writer: Steve Leer, (765) 494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu

Sources: Ken Foster, (765) 494-4191, kfoster@purdue.edu

Jay Akridge, (765) 494-8391, akridge@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

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