John Nason has been named the chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB) at Iowa State University.
Nason, a professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology, has been at Iowa State since 2000. He succeeds Jonathan Wendel, Distinguished Professor and professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology. Wendel is returning to faculty rank after concluding his term as chair.
EEOB is jointly administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).
Nason’s appointment is effective July 1.
"I look forward to continuing to grow our undergraduate biology and genetics programs, to ensure our course offerings and advising services effectively meet student needs and to work with EEOB faculty to further research and enhance the national and international reputation of our very strong department," Nason said. "I also look forward to working with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to address college and university-level objectives."
Nason is a past recipient of the LAS Career Research Award (spring 2013) and Master Teacher Award (fall 2006). He has served on numerous university, college and departmental committees and initiatives and as a faculty adviser for the Iowa State McNair Program and for the genetics and biology programs.
Nason earned a doctorate in botany and plant genetics from the University of California at Riverside. An evolutionary biologist, Nason researches factors influencing gene flow and their impacts on genetic variation in plants and associated insects.
EEOB is a major participant, along with other departments, in several interdepartmental majors and programs, including bioinformatics and computational biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, environmental science, genetics and genomics, interdisciplinary graduate studies, microbiology, plant biology and sustainable agriculture. It offers graduate work leading to both master’s and doctorate degrees.