Doug Karcher, Ph.D., is returning to his alma mater as professor and chair in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at Ohio State University. His four-year term begins Aug. 1, pending approval by the university’s board of trustees.
Karcher, currently is a professor and assistant head in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas and also is the interim assistant director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. He earned a bachelor's degree in agronomy from Ohio State in 1984 and went on to earn master's (1997) and doctorate degrees (2000) from Michigan State in crop and soil sciences.
During his career, Karcher has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers and 130 articles resulting from his research. He is a founding board member of the European Institute for Turfgrass Science, an organization dedicated to providing research-based recommendations to the European Turfgrass Industry.
“We are excited in bringing an engaged leader like Dr. Karcher to OSU,” Cathann A. Kress, vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES, said in a news release. “He has a record demonstrating effective scholarship, a commitment to students, and productive relationships with stakeholders. Further, his leadership regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion are quite welcome, and align with our continued focus on DEI as a college.”
In his new position, Karcher will lead the department’s research, teaching, extension and international development programs; foster effective, collegial, cooperative and productive relationships among students, staff; promote the department and the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with state, national and international organizations.
His research at Arkansas has focused on improving the functional and aesthetic quality of turfgrass while minimizing water, fertilizer and pesticide inputs through the refinement of cultural practices.