Meullenet to lead Agricultural Experiment Station for UofA System Division of Agriculture
May 25, 2018
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- Jean-François Meullenet appointed director of Division of Ag’s research side
- Meullenet has served as interim since December 2017
(300 words)
(Newsrooms: With filer of Meullenet at www.flickr.com/photos/uacescomm/38152726965)
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark – Jean-François Meullenet has been appointed director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, effective June 1.
Mark Cochran, vice-president-agriculture for the system and head of the Division of Agriculture, announced Meullenet’s appointment Friday.
Meullenet has served as interim director since December succeeding Clarence Watson, who retired at the end of 2017. The Agricultural Experiment Station, headquartered in Fayetteville, is the research arm of the Division of Agriculture, and has 13 research centers and stations across Arkansas. The stations’ research findings are then transferred to the public through the Cooperative Extension Service.
“Jean-François is thoroughly grounded in our land grant mission and has the strong administrative skills and focus we need to keep our research on the leading edge,” Cochran said.
“I appreciate the trust Dr. Cochran has placed in me by making this appointment,” Meullenet said. “I’m eager to keep our research program operating at high levels to benefit agriculture and consumers in Arkansas and beyond.”
Meullenet has been interim assistant director of the experiment station since July 2016, in addition to serving as head of the Food Science Department and director of the Institute of Food Science and Engineering, posts he’s held since 2010.
A native of France, Meullenet earned a master of science in Food Engineering from the National Superior School of Agronomy and Food Science in Nancy, and a PhD in Food Science and Technology from the University of Georgia. He joined the Division of Agriculture as an assistant professor of Food Science in 1996. He has published 117 articles in refereed journals and has made more than 150 presentations, in addition to advising numerous masters and PhD students.
Since 2006, Meullenet has held the Tyson Foods Endowed Distinguished Professorship in Sensory Science and is a 2013 graduate of LEAD21, a national leadership program.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative
Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu