UF/IFAS Names New Dean Of Research

Posted by Paul Rusnak|September 24, 2014

The University of Florida named Jackie Burns, the current director of UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, as its new dean for research for the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).
“Dr. Burns, a preeminent scientist with 89 research publications, also has proven to be an outstanding administrator in leading one of IFAS’ largest Research and Education Centers,” said Jack Payne, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.

Burns, a native of Southern California, became interested in horticulture as a girl while visiting family who lived in the Central California valley. She did her undergraduate and master’s work in horticulture at the University of Arkansas, earned her doctorate in horticulture at Pennsylvania State University in 1985 and became a research associate in plant physiology with the USDA in Athens, GA.

Burns began her UF career in 1987 as an assistant professor of horticulture at Lake Alfred’s CREC. She rose through the ranks there as a professor, associate center director, director of the Citrus Research and Education Foundation and eventually, center director. She also served one year as center director of the Southwest Florida REC.

Burns has secured more than $6.5 million in research funding for the CREC since 2008. Of UF’s $702 million record-breaking research funding in 2013, UF/IFAS researchers brought in $102 million.

Burns said as the UF/IFAS research dean, she will work to invest in initiatives with regional, national and global impact that protect natural resources and related industries. “IFAS has a significant base of established research expertise and creativity, with programs of renown,” she said. “Although there are challenges ahead, these should be great opportunities for IFAS program leadership.”