PULLMAN, Wash.-James Moyer has been named director of Washington State University's Agricultural Research Center (ARC). He will also serve as associate dean for research for the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS).
A native of Dayton, Wash., and an alumnus of WSU's agronomy program-now called crop and soil sciences-he is tentatively slated to take up his roles at WSU on May 1.
A renowned plant pathologist, Moyer has focused his research on virology-in particular, the population structure and dynamics of tospoviruses. He has made contributions to sweet potato pathology and cultivar development, was awarded a patent for fingerprinting ornamental plant cultivars and is involved in numerous national and international activities.
He has served as president of the American Phytopathological Society and is a fellow of that group. He received the Morrison Medal from the USDA-ARS and the Alex Laurie Award from the national floral crop industry for his research contributions.