Glen Ritchie Named Agronomy Chair at Iowa State

By Andi Anderson

Glen Ritchie has been selected as the new chair of the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University, officially taking the position on July 15, 2025.

He brings over a decade of experience from Texas and will succeed Mary Wiedenhoeft, who has served as interim chair since May 2023. Wiedenhoeft will continue in the department as a Morrill Professor of Agronomy.

Ritchie previously served as department chair of Plant and Soil Science at Texas Tech University for five years. His academic background includes extensive work in crop physiology, focusing on plant water relations, resource partitioning, and plant sensing techniques, particularly in cotton. His leadership and research are well respected in the academic community.

He is currently editor of Crop Science and is an active member of major agricultural organizations including the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America.

In welcoming Ritchie, Daniel J. Robison, endowed dean’s chair of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, praised his qualifications. “Dr. Ritchie’s background and leadership will ensure the department continues to thrive in student preparation, impactful research, and engagement with Iowa and global agriculture,” he said.

Ritchie holds a Ph.D. in crop physiology from the University of Georgia, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Utah State University, and an associate degree from Ricks College (now Brigham Young University-Idaho).

Excited for the opportunity, Ritchie stated, “Iowa State’s Agronomy Department is known for its strong ties to agriculture, research excellence, and student success. I look forward to advancing these strengths and expanding our impact.”

Photo Credit: iowa-state-university