ISU Extension leader to retire

AMES, Iowa -- Stanley Johnson, vice provost for Iowa State University Extension and an internationally acclaimed agricultural economist, has announced he will retire later this year.

Johnson has served as vice provost for Extension since 1996 and professor of economics since 1985. He is a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture. Prior to his appointment as head of Extension, Johnson was director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.

As vice provost for Extension, Johnson oversees the network of services and offices in all 99 Iowa counties with 1,300 employees.

Johnson received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, College Station. Prior to joining the ISU faculty, he held faculty positions in economics and agricultural economics at the University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Davis; University of Missouri, Columbia; Purdue University, University of Georgia and University of Connecticut.

His international service has included research and development projects in China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Russia and Western Europe. He also has served since 1995 on the World Food Prize Advisory Board. He is the author of 11 books and has published more than 160 articles. In addition, he has supervised more than 150 master's and doctoral students.

Provost Ben Allen will soon name a search committee to identify candidates for the vice provost for Extension post. The goal, he said, is to select a replacement in the fall. Johnson will continue in his position until his successor is named.