Louws Steps Up As Head of CALS’ Department of Horticultural Sciences

Frank J. Louws has been named head of the Department of Horticultural Science in NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Louws has a 22-year history of excellence in research, extension and leadership at NC State, said CALS Dean Richard Linton.

“Dr. Louws has a long and successful history at NC State, and he has accomplished himself ​as a strong research scientist and interdisciplinary collaborator,” Linton added. “Frank also has a strong sense of the needs of our external stakeholders and opportunities to grow our undergraduate and graduate students. He is the perfect fit for the needs of horticultural sciences.”

Louws arrived at NC State in 1996 as an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and has risen through the professorial ranks, focusing on integrated pest management and sustainable agricultural principles and practices for the small fruit and vegetable.

He’s also served as director of the NSF Center for IPM at NC State since 2011. In that role, he coordinates interdisciplinary research and extension teams, cultivates local to global partnerships and trains the next generation of IPM practitioners.

Louws holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and a master’s in plant pathology from the University of Guelph in Ontario. He went on to earn a doctorate in plant pathology and to work as a postdoctoral scientist in microbial ecology at Michigan State University.

Today, Louws is a member of a number of professional societies, including the American Phytopathology Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Sigma Xi and the International Society for Horticultural Science.

“NC State’s Department of Horticultural Science is internationally well-recognized with distinguished impacts – locally, nationally and globally,” Louws said. “I look forward to joining the department and sharing in its vision alongside the spectrum of faculty, staff and students for continued growth in excellence.”

This post was originally published in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences News.