The LSU AgCenter recently appointed two new department heads. Dr. Tim Schowalter was named head of the Department of Entomology, and Dr. Daniel Thomas was named head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

Schowalter joined the LSU AgCenter from Oregon State University, where he had been on the faculty for 22 years.

Schowalter served the past two years as interim head of entomology at Oregon, and his research specialties include forest entomology and ecology. He also has served as U.S. delegate to Hungary and Taiwan to help the National Science Foundation develop long-term ecological research partnerships.

Schowalter earned his bachelor's degree from Wichita State University, his master's degree from New Mexico State University and his doctorate from the University of Georgia.

Thomas was previously at the University of Georgia-Tifton, where his primary areas of research included water management systems and precision agriculture systems.

Thomas is the son of the late Carl H. Thomas, who was head of the LSU Agricultural Engineering department from 1969 to 1976. The new department head received his bachelor's and master's degrees from LSU and his doctorate from Purdue University.