Lee Sommers is Selected as Agricultural Experiment Station Director

Lee Sommers is the newly selected director of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station. Sommers, who served for the past two years as CAES interim director, accepted the position effective July 1.

"Dr. Sommers will lead Colorado State University’s researchers as we face the many challenges of a changing agriculture, the discovery and application of new technologies, the globalization of the economy and the need for basic and applied research," said Kirvin Knox, Colorado State Vice Provost for Agriculture and University Outreach. "I’m confident he will lead with distinction and I look forward to working with him on the many challenges we face." Sommers received a bachelor’s in agriculture from Wisconsin State University-Platteville and a master’s and doctorate in soil science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

During his tenure as a soil science professor at Purdue University in 1977, Sommers spent an eight-month sabbatical at Colorado State. He returned to serve as professor and head of the department of soil sciences in 1985. Dr. Sommers is a member of numerous professional organizations and currently is president- elect of the Soil Science Society of America.

As director of CAES, Sommers is responsible for all programming, budgeting and related activities. He reports to the Vice Provost for Agriculture and University Outreach. CAES works in partnership with Colorado State Cooperative Extension to provide Colorado consumers and agricultural producers with the latest information to help maintain a healthy economy and vibrant community.