Dr. Kells had formerly served as the director of Ag Bio Research and Project GREEEN and Chair of the Departments of Crops and Soils Sciences and Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences. We thank him for his service and wish him well in his new role.
You may have noticed that, recently, Dr. James J. Kells shifted to Professor Emeritus, and assumed roles as Assistant Director, AgBioResearch and Coordinator, Project GREEEN, AgBioResearch and MSU Extension. Here we take a moment to reflect on his 30+ years of service to PSM, to MSU, and what the future in CANR holds.
Jim was raised on a family farm in Michigan and always knew he would study agriculture science. "One of my first courses at MSU was with Dr. Taylor Johnston, who made the class particularly fun and I knew I was in the right place," Kells says.
"I also had the good fortune to take a soil fertility course with Dr. John Shickluna, and he offered me an opportunity to be a teaching assistant for a soil chem analysis course which gave me a chance to try teaching and I found that I really enjoyed being in the intersection of learning and science."
Kells also names Dr William Meggitt as a significant influence. "Bill helped me identify me a good graduate program at the University of Kentucky, and I went to get my Master's degree. Kells then learned that a job opened at MSU as an agriculture technology instructor and was encouraged to apply. "Then I worked on my PhD with Dr. Meggitt, and with great timing and luck, a faculty position opened at the time I was ready."
In 1982 Kells began working in a position that started as research and extension and then quickly moved into teaching an undergraduate weed science course.
"I feel especially fortunate to have secured a tenured position in my home state," he says. As part of the faculty, Kells mentored 25 PhDs and several hundred undergrads. "I really enjoyed advising students --Instructors can have huge impacts on students. It may be difficult to measure, but the interactions with the students is the most rewarding."
In 2005 Kells was Associate Chair of the Crop and Soil Sciences Dept and Dr. Doug Buheler was the chair. When he moved on, Kells became acting chair and then was selected as chair, where he served for 14 years.
As Chair, Kells managed the restructuring of the departments into the current organization of Plant, Soils, and Microbial Sciences. "It was one of the most difficult but worthwhile challenges of my career, and I am deeply satisfied that it went so well," Kells says.
Currently, Kells can be found in Morrill Hall, serving part time as Assistant Director of AgBioResearch and MSU Extension, in which he oversees all the research and extension centers, and part time as Coordinator of Project GREEEN, in which he helps faculty secure research funding. "This year we are increasing the funding limit to $50k, which is very exciting," Kells says. "We do very local work and we are very responsive -- we try to address immediate needs of agriculture in Michigan."
For new students coming in, to new faculty joining the department, to seasoned faculty seeking funding to further their research goals, Kells has a bit of advice: "Find your passion--find what excites you and focus on it. Become an expert. Stay focused and don't be discouraged by challenges and difficulties. As well, Kells recommends "Everyone needs a circle of confidants and role models and mentors. I have always benefitted by having somebody I can go to and connect with."
Categories: Michigan, Education