W. R. (Reg) Gomes, dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , is UC's new vice president of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources effective Sept. 1.
Gomes will succeed Kenneth R. Farrell, who last August announced his intention to retire after eight years as vice president.
A recent study, "Valuing UC Agricultural Research and Extension," looked at UC research and extension activities from 1949-85. A key finding was that the average return from public investment in UC research has been approximately 20 percent per year, which underscored the value of UC's teaching, research and public service to California agriculture.
Gomes is a leader in the agricultural sciences as co-editor of four books and author or co-author of more than 50 scientific papers.
A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, he earned his master of science in animal physiology and endocrinology from Washington State University and his doctorate in the same field from Purdue.
Gomes has been dean of the College of Agriculture at Illinois since 1989, appointed after serving as acting dean in 1988-89.