Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek

Jimmy G. Cheek is Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Florida. Appointed in January 2005, he is the administrative head of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) which includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, elements of the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, 13 Research and Education Centers throughout Florida,  and the Florida Cooperative Extension Service with offices in each of the state’s 67 counties. Last year, IFAS expenditures were approximately $300 million, over half of which was non-state appropriations. IFAS employs 1,160 faculty and 1,275 staff.

The major accomplishments of IFAS during the past four years included a 30 percent increase in annual grants and contracts awarded to faculty ($93.5 million in 2007), a 76 percent increase in annual private fund raising ($16 million in 2007), a 57 percent increase in the endowment value ($90.8 million in 2007), and a 34 percent increase in county funding for Extension ($39.9 million in 2007). IFAS has also been successful in increasing state legislative funding in three of the four years. Federal earmarked funds have increased 133 percent to $12.4 million. Also, CALS’ student enrollment and degrees granted have each increased 22 percent and the student body has become more diverse. Thirty-five percent of CALS undergraduate students and 16 percent of the graduate students are minority and 60 percent of the undergraduates and 45 percent of the graduate students are women.

IFAS faculty and administrators played pivotal roles in the development of several university interdisciplinary strategic initiatives including the Water Institute, the Genetics Institute and building, and the Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI) and building. Other accomplishments include major funding for research and demonstration of cellulosic ethanol plant, dedication of a new research and education center and several new county facilities, restructuring of the IFAS Advisory Council and developing five regional advisory councils.

Prior to his current position, Cheek was Dean of the university’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) from 1999-2004. As Dean, new degree programs were initiated including the Doctor of Plant Medicine, eleven undergraduate minors were created, teaching and research symposia were established, and the College name was changed. In addition, CALS expanded enrollment while maintaining a diverse, high-quality student body. CALS increased undergraduate student credit hours taught by 19 percent and graduate student credit hours taught by 43 percent. The university allocated significant new resources to CALS based on graduate enrollment growth using a competitive, performance-based model. Today, CALS has more than 1,100 graduate students and almost 4,000 undergraduate students and is the fourth largest college at the university.

He was Assistant Dean of the college from 1992-1999. He administered and provided leadership for undergraduate academic programs and distance education. While Assistant Dean, undergraduate enrollment and degrees conferred more than doubled and early admission programs were established with the Colleges of Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine. The curriculum for each major was significantly revised, new majors and minors were created, under enrolled and outdated majors were deleted, courses were taught via distance education, and a student tracking system was developed which significantly increased graduation rates and reduced time to degree by increasing throughput.

Cheek came to the University of Florida in 1975 as Assistant Professor of Agricultural Education and Communication and was promoted to Professor in 1985. His numerous awards include Teacher of the Year for CALS, Alpha Zeta Professor of the Year, and first recipient of the University of Florida Faculty Superior Accomplishment Award. He is a Fellow of the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture and was awarded the Ensminger-Interstate Distinguished Teaching Award. In 1998, he received the Morton Wolfson Faculty Award for outstanding contributions to the quality of student life at the University of Florida. He was named Fellow by the American Association for Agricultural Education in 2005.

 Cheek has authored more than 80 journal articles and reports and is the senior author of a text book. He is a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Zeta, and Phi Delta Kappa honor societies and numerous professional organizations. He is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education, and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering.

Cheek has held major leadership positions in professional organizations and has served in numerous leadership and governance roles at the University of Florida.

Cheek earned his B.S. degree with high honors and his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He received his master’s degree from Lamar University.

A native of Texas, he is married to Ileen and they have two adult children and one granddaughter.

---

Biography provided by the candidate

Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek

The search committee welcomes input from the campus community at any point during this important process. You may send comments here.