Deevon Bailey Named Associate Vice President for International Programs

Utah State University economics professor DeeVon Bailey has been appointed as the associate vice president for research focusing on international program development.

Bailey, who serves as interim head of USU’s economics department, begins his new role May 1. He will be responsible for strengthening on-campus efforts in international research, representing USU to outside agencies, facilitating proposal preparation, managing development funds and coordinating international education initiatives directed by the Provost’s office.

 

“DeeVon has a strong base of international experience and has worked in many countries around the world,” said USU Vice President for Research Brent Miller. “He has especially good contacts in the USDA where its Foreign Agricultural Service has a rapidly emerging international program. USU currently has USDA/FAS programs in Armenia and Iraq, and soon will have a program in China in biotechnology.”

 

Bailey replaces Morris Whitaker, outgoing director of international program development. Both will be honored at a reception Monday, April 21, from 3-5 p.m. at the David B. Haight Alumni Center on campus.

 

“I am excited about the possibilities of enhancing and extending the impact of expertise at Utah State University to people around the world,” said Bailey. “USU has a long and important history and legacy in international research. Our research programs have touched and made the lives of many, many people around the world better. What could be more rewarding than helping other people develop their own capabilities to help themselves? This is the heart and soul of international work, and I’m pleased and humbled to be part of what we are doing in this regard at USU.”

 

A USU faculty member since 1983, Bailey has established himself as one of the nation’s leading experts in food traceability, agribusiness and the economics of production agriculture.

 

As one of the nation’s premier researchers in these areas, Bailey has received support from public and private sponsors, as well as the federal government. Bailey has been the principal investigator on more than 50 projects, funded by such institutions as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Western Center for Risk Management, and he has been called to testify before congressional committees and chair prominent research initiatives regarding his research on traceability and market power in agriculture.

 

“DeeVon Bailey will do a great job directing international programs at USU,” said USU President Stan L. Albrecht. “He is a critical thinker who brings excellent analytical and conceptual skills to this challenging assignment. He is well respected among his peers at USU and will bring substantial credibility to his interactions with them. He also is well known among his peers both nationally and internationally and will be well received by them.”

 

As an Extension marketing specialist, Bailey has conducted programs to improve the marketing mechanisms in the state for agricultural products and commodities. This includes working with producers, agribusiness and county agents to develop more efficient products and marketing techniques and providing agricultural situation and price outlook information.

 

Bailey is also the recipient of the 2006 D. Wynne Thorne Career Research Award, the most prestigious faculty research accolade given by USU. The award is given annually to one outstanding university researcher who is recommended by a committee of peers, who are all previous award recipients.

 

“International research is an important component of USU’s mission,” said Raymond Coward, USU provost. “It creates better research networks and training opportunities for USU faculty, as well as expands our funding base through contracts, grants and economic development. DeeVon Bailey is already identifying areas of research that will be vital to our growth in the near future.”

 

USU has traditionally had international programs emphasizing irrigation and arid lands research and technical assistance and is internationally recognized for strengths in these areas. Other research and academic initiatives also occurring in the colleges and centers include biotechnology in food and agricultural production, assisting persons with disabilities and business and product development. Bailey believes all of these efforts are important and are being carried out successfully and with a high degree of professionalism at USU.

 

“The growth and interdependence of the global economy demands that USU be involved in international research and academic programs,” said Bailey. “Without this type of involvement, we risk losing relevance as an institution because we will not be preparing the next generation of researchers and decision makers to think and act in a global context.”

 

Whitaker served as director of international program development since 1983, with breaks from 1987 to 1990 to serve as policy advisor to the USAID administrator in Ecuador and from 2001 to 2004 to serve as a mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico. During that time, Whitaker was the principal investigator on international research grants totaling $42 million. He led USU efforts to win four major research grants in the Dominican Republic, and he led USU efforts to design and negotiate the Presidential Scholarship Program from the Dominican Republic. This program has brought more than 200 students to USU, with another group to come in 2008. Whitaker will retire April 30.

 

“Morris Whitaker has done an outstanding job of putting USU on the global map,” said Albrecht. “Today, USU is known worldwide as a leader in water and irrigation, arid land agriculture, rangeland management and upper atmosphere research. We owe much of that recognition to the efforts of Whitaker.”