Robert Seem named interim director of Geneva Experiment Station

Seem

By Linda McCandless

Robert C. Seem, Cornell professor of plant pathology, has been named interim director of Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y., effective Jan. 1, 2004. Seem has served as the station's associate director since 1990. James E. Hunter, who has served as the director for 13 and a half years, had previously announced his plans to resign as director, effective Jan. 1.

Hunter said that he has every confidence in Seem because, he said, "There's nothing at the station about which Bob is not well-informed."

"Bob's dedicated service for 13 years as associate director has prepared him well for this role," said Susan A. Henry, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "I am confident that he will be able to provide the necessary leadership and continuity to ensure a seamless transition to the new administration."

"At this time, I expect to maintain all ongoing programs and not undertake any major initiatives," said Seem.

Current programs include the implementation of a new administrative service center as part of the universitywide Workforce Planning Initiative, ongoing budget planning, work with the Ag and Food Tech Park and continuing development of a new Vineyard Laboratory in Fredonia, N.Y.

Seem added: "The fundamental role of administration is to make the station a stimulating and dynamic place where faculty and staff can effectively carry out their research, outreach and education. I want to ensure that remains in effect during the transition."

Seem is a native of the Allentown area in eastern Pennsylvania and a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, where he received a B.S. in botany and an M.S. and Ph.D. in plant pathology. He joined the department of plant pathology at Cornell as an assistant professor of plant pathology in 1975 and was promoted to full professor in 1998. Seem specializes in the epidemiology, biology and control of fruit and vegetable diseases, with emphasis on the development of decision support systems ranging from simple models of disease to sophisticated simulation models. He is widely respected for his creative and inclusive approaches to research and for his applications of new technologies to solving problems. He is a leading authority in the application of geographic information systems and high-resolution weather forecasting to the management of plant diseases.

Recognizing that a search for the next director will take some time, Henry has assured faculty and staff of the "high priority that I and the rest of the college leadership place on finding an outstanding individual to succeed Jim Hunter." To get input on the search, Henry has scheduled a meeting with faculty and staff at the Experiment Station for Nov. 10. If the search goes as planned, Henry said she expects a new director to be in place by June 2004.