Prakash is an alum of the University of Agricultural Sciences in India.
AB Wire
NEW YORK: Dr. Channapatna S. Prakash, an Indian American-origin professor of crop genetics, genomics and biotechnology at Tuskegee University, has been elected as the new Dean to lead the College of Arts and Sciences, from August 1. Prakash was chosen from a field of several highly qualified applicants. Dr. Cesar Fermin and the Office of the Provost conducted the dean search, which received an overwhelming response from applicants. In addition to his stellar professional background, Prakash also had three letters of recommendation from members of the National Academy of Sciences.
A prolific scholar and researcher, Prakash’s career and influence as a science advocate spans the globe. His current research is focused on genomics of food and bioenergy crops. He is an elected fellow of the American College of Nutrition, was named one of the “Top 30 Influencers in Biotech and Pharma” by the Huffington Post and has served as editor-in-chief for GM Crops & Food: Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain since 2010.
Prakash is also a recipient of the prestigious 2015 Borlaug CAST Communications Award recognizing his lifelong contribution to agricultural science communication.
“Dr. Prakash will lead the college’s student-centered, academically focused initiatives to strengthen the “A” in STEAM,” said Dr. Shantay Bolton, director of Human Resources/deputy Title IX coordinator, in a statement.
Prakash also has worked with many governments around the world and advised them on agricultural policy issues, especially on biotechnology development, biosafety regulation trade, and legislative issues. Prakash has also served on the USDA’s Agricultural Biotechnology Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee for the Department of Biotechnology for the government of India.
He has been with Tuskegee for about 26 years, and was instrumental in initiating its biotech program that has trained countless minority students and scholars in agricultural biotechnology, while bringing competitively funded grants from several agencies. Among his many achievements is the development of a transgenic (genetically engineered) sweet potato that is high in protein.
Prakash has a Ph.D. in Faculty of Science (Forestry and Genetics), from The Australian National University and a M.S. in genetics and plant breeding and a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences in India.