Leadership
Our leadership staff provides overall direction for the College of Agriculture, which is dedicated to the land grant tradition of Auburn University: improving the lives of all Alabama citizens through research, instruction and outreach programs and preparing citizens to respond successfully to the challenges of a global economy.
Interim Dean & Director
Dr. Arthur Appel
Contact
107 Comer Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849-5401
334-844-2562
appelag@auburn.edu
- Previously served as interim associate dean for research and interim associate director for AAES from June 2021 to April 2022.
- Previously served as interim dean for the College of Agriculture and interim director for AAES from July 2015 to February 2016.
- First served as interim associate dean for research and interim associate director for AAES from 2014 to 2016.
- Served as chair of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology from 2005 to 2014.
- Was named an Alumni Professor from 2001 to 2006.
- Has served at Auburn University since 1985.
More about Art Appel
Arthur Appel has served as associate dean for research and associate director for AAES since April 2022. He previously served as interim in the role from 2021 to 2022, 2014 to 2016, before serving as interim dean for the College of Agriculture and interim director for AAES. Appel served served at Auburn since 1985.
Interim Associate Dean for Research; Interim Associate Director, AAES
Dr. Sushil Adhikari
Contact
216 Corley Building
Auburn University, AL 36849
334-844-3543
- Serves as a professor in the Biosystems department and the director at the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts
- Research areas include biomass gasification, biomass pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, torrefaction and biodiesel production
- Hold a Ph.D. Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University
- Holds a M.S. Energy Technology, Asian Institute of Technology-Thailand
- Holds a B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Tribhuvan University-Nepal
More about Sushil Adhikari
Dr. Adhikari has been a faculty member in the Department of Biosystems Engineering since 2008. He served as interim head of the department from August 2016 to April 2017, and he has served as director of the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts since September 2017.
Associate Dean for Instruction
Dr. Amy Wright
Contact
- Oversees the College of Agriculture’s Office of Student Services, responsible for student recruitment, academic advising, curriculum, alumni mentoring and career advisement.
- Helps oversee the college’s Office of Global Programs.
- Conducts research in rain gardens and sustainable landscape horticulture.
- Holds a Ph.D. in horticultural science from North Carolina State University.
- Holds a B.S. in chemistry and M.S. in horticulture from Virginia Tech University.
More About Amy Wright
Amy Wright has served as the College of Agriculture associate dean for instruction since 2017. She is also a professor in Auburn’s Department of Horticulture, where she has served since 2002.
Associate Dean for Extension & Assistant Director for Agriculture, Forestry, & Natural Resource Extension Programs
Dr. Becky Barlow
Contact
Room 2301-B
Auburn University, AL 36849
- Serves as the College of Agriculture’s liaison with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
- Coordinates and leads programs that extension carries out in collaboration with the College of Agriculture as well as the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and Alabama A&M University.
- Has served as a faculty member in Auburn’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences since 2007.
- Was honored with Auburn’s Harry Murphy Endowed Professorship in 2020.
More About Becky Barlow
Before serving as associate dean for extension and assistant director for agriculture, forestry and natural resource extension programs, Becky Barlow had served in both roles on an interim basis since May 2021. She also served as an extension specialist and professor in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.