KNOXVILLE — Larry Arrington, professor of agricultural education and communication at the University of Florida, will be recommended by UT President Joe DiPietro for election by the UT Board of Trustees as the next chancellor of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.
“The University of Tennessee owes much of its statewide presence to the Institute of Agriculture. It is a critical part of UT’s overall mission as our state’s land-grant institution, and many citizens across our state rely on the Institute for guidance through its programs in agriculture and agricultural research, youth development, education, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences and community development,” DiPietro said.
“Larry is a gifted and nationally recognized administrator and an outstanding leader, and his prior experience will serve UTIA very well in his role as chancellor. I worked closely with him at the University of Florida, and I know his abilities first hand and know with certainty he will be a great fit. I am pleased for our University and for our state to have Larry joining us in Tennessee to help carry out this important mission.”
The Board of Trustees will act on DiPietro’s recommendation at its annual meeting June 23. A 23-member search committee comprised of University faculty, staff, students, alumni and administrators reviewed the applicant pool and identified four finalists for DiPietro to consider before recommending his choice to the Board.
Arrington served as interim senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences from 2009 to 2010. Prior to that, Arrington worked in the Florida Extension Service, serving as dean from 2004 to 2009. He has worked at the University of Florida since 1981.
“We believe Dr. Arrington’s experience will serve us well at the Institute of Agriculture and throughout the state of Tennessee,” said Buddy Mitchell, interim UTIA chancellor and associate chancellor for development. “He is extremely knowledgeable in providing the best possible environment for our agricultural students, faculty and staff and in the best outreach programs to serve the people of Tennessee.”
A native of Plant City, Fla., Arrington earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural and extension education at the University of Florida, his master’s in vocational education at the University of Georgia and his doctorate in agricultural and extension education at the Ohio State University.
Arrington has been rewarded for his expertise and leadership in agriculture. He was presented the Gene Trotter Agricultural Leadership Award in 2010 by the Wedgworth Leadership Institute, a state program to develop leaders in agriculture and natural resources. He also received the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Award for Service to the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy last year. Arrington was named a distinguished alumnus by Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; the UT College of Veterinary Medicine; UT AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers; and UT Extension with offices in all 95 Tennessee counties.
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