Lumpkin Named WSU Crop and Soils Chair

PULLMAN, Wash. – Thomas A. Lumpkin assumed duties as chair of the crop and soil sciences department in Washington State University’s College of Agriculture and Home Economics on Feb. 1.

“Dr. Lumpkin has led a major international development program that has brought alternative crops to Washington,” said James Zuiches, dean of the college.

Lumpkin’s research is helping establish several new and potentially lucrative East Asian crops that can be grown in the state, including Azuki beans, an edible soybean known as edamame, and the Japanese wasabi radish.

He collaborates with researchers in the Philippines, the People’s Republic of China, Bhutan, and Japan.

Lumpkin, a crop scientist, has been on the WSU faculty 12 years. He teaches classes in world agricultural systems and botany of world crops.

He was recommended for the chair’s position by the department following an internal search. He will succeed Dwane Miller who last fall asked to return to teaching and research after more than eight years as chair.

Lumpkin will administer teaching, research and extension programs that support a variety of crops and agriculture industries across the state, including wheat, peas, barley, lentils, forages, grass seed, hops and mints.

The crop and soil sciences department, the college’s largest, has 59 faculty, more than 50 staff and technicians, 45 graduate students and 60 undergraduate students.

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