T he College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has new leaders of two of its departments. On Oct. 1, 2008, Dr. David W. Threadgill became head of the Department of Genetics, and on Jan.1, 2009, Dr. George Kennedy, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Entomology, assumed duties as head of the Department of Entomology.

Threadgill succeeds Dr. Stephanie Curtis, who will return to the Genetics Department’s faculty and serve as its director of academic programs. Kennedy, an outstanding faculty member in the CALS Entomology Department for 32 years, will replace Dr. James Harper, who has served as head since 1989.

Threadgill comes to the College from UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was associate professor of genetics. He previously was an assistant professor of cell biology and medicine at Vanderbilt University.

Threadgill earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology and his Ph.D. in genetics from Texas A&M University, with post-doctoral studies at Case Western Reserve University.

Kennedy came to N.C. State in 1976 as an assistant professor of entomology, progressing in 1979 to associate professor and in 1984 to professor. He was named William Neal Reynolds Professor of Entomology in 1992.

Kennedy received his 1970 B.S. in entomology from Oregon State University and his 1974 Ph.D. in entomology from Cornell University.

—Terri Leith