Alumni accept positions
in U.S. Department of Agriculture
By Laura Pelner
Campus
Editor
Two of Purdue's distinguished agricultural alumni
are nominated for positions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
James Moseley is named to the position of deputy
secretary, which is the second highest-ranking position in the department.
Moseley received a bachelor's degree in horticulture from Purdue in
1973.
"Anytime you have the president ask you to serve
in a position like this, it's an honor," said Moseley. "These opportunities
don't come along very often. This is something that I'm pleased to do;
it's a significant responsibility."
Moseley said there are a lot of issues he will
deal with as deputy secretary. "Agriculture affects everyone in the
country; it's the way we feed ourselves," he said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture covers not only
food production, but also the forest service, soil conservation, the
food and nutrition service, agriculture research, food inspection —
with the exception of fish — and the international trade of agricultural
commodities.
"The Department of Agriculture covers a lot more
than just farm policy," said Moseley, who attributes part of his successes
to Purdue.
"The basic education I got at Purdue was very good,"
he said. "I have a lot of allegiance to the University … Purdue
is a very special college to (my family)."
Vic Lechtenberg, dean of the School of Agriculture,
said Moseley has a wealth of agricultural experience and judgment.
Another Purdue distinguished alumnus, J.B. Penn,
is nominated for an under secretary position in the U.S. Department
of Agriculture. Penn got his Ph.D. from Purdue in 1972 in agricultural
economics.
Penn will be the assistant secretary for the international
trade and domestic agricultural programs. He will be a part of the staff
that works under Moseley.
Penn and Moseley have worked together before and
Moseley said Penn is qualified for the job. "I have very high regard
for his ability," he said.
Both Moseley and Penn have held other positions
in the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the past, and other Purdue
faculty have been involved as well. Marshall Martin, the associate head
of the agricultural economics department, said, "We have had other faculty
over many years serve in various leadership capacities in the Department
of Agriculture."
He said they've all been talented people like Moseley
and Penn. "Purdue has one of the leading schools of agriculture in the
world," said Martin. "We truly believe that we are well known for training
students. Many of them have clearly distinguished themselves in leadership
and professional careers, which is partly due to the learning experience
(they've had) while they were on the West Lafayette campus."
Lechtenberg said he's delighted with these appointments.
"Purdue has a long and proud history of people being engaged in policy
and process," he said.
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