Sparks assumes interim leadership of MSU agricultural programs
Contact: Karen Brasher
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 longtime 幺力视频 faculty member with more than a decade of service has been named acting dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and acting director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.
Darrell Sparks steps into these acting roles on November 1 as Scott T. Willard, current dean and director, assumes the position of interim vice president for research and economic development for the university.
Sparks has served as associate dean for the university鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since 2022. He has held numerous leadership positions at MSU, including associate and interim state chemist, director of the 幺力视频 Chemical Laboratory and faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion.
鈥淒r. Sparks is a proven leader and talented administrator,鈥 Willard said. 鈥淚 am confident in his ability to lead the college and experiment station in coordination with our entire leadership team as I take on this interim role as vice president.鈥
A two-time graduate of MSU, Sparks earned his bachelor鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to take on these new responsibilities for my alma mater,鈥 Sparks said. 鈥淥ur college prepares students to become leaders in agriculture and life sciences and our faculty members conduct research that advances agricultural productivity and innovation. We also lead in research in life sciences that improves health, well-being and quality of life for Mississippians. I look forward to continuing to support these outstanding programs from this new vantage point.鈥
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, one of MSU鈥檚 founding colleges, offers 17 undergraduate majors with 51 concentrations in agriculture, pre-health and related fields, as well as 18 graduate majors with 41 concentrations. Learn more at .
The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, operates 16 branch stations across the state and has numerous on-campus facilities, including the MAFES Sales Store, Custer Dairy Processing Plant, R. R. Foil Plant Science Research Center and H. H. Levick Animal Research Center. MAFES research enhances producer profitability, protects natural resources and improves the health and well-being of Mississippians. Learn more at .
幺力视频 is taking care of what matters. Learn more at聽.