Rom Named President of American Society for Horticultural Sciences

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Horticulture professor and director of the Bumpers College honors program Curt Rom

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Curt Rom, University Professor of horticulture in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and interim dean of the Honors College at the University of Arkansas, has been elected president of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences.

The organization is the largest professional and science society devoted to horticulture. It publishes three academic journals – Journal of the ASHS, HortScience and HortTechnology. The mission of the group is to promote scientific research, technology development, outreach and education regarding horticultural plants and crops.

The society, which comprises members from academic institutions, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and commercial organizations representing all 50 states and 60 countries, conducts workshops and seminars around the country and held this year’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida. 

Rom, who is also director of the Bumpers College honors program, began his three-year term as president of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences on July 31. His term begins with a year of service as president-elect. After a year as president he will serve his third year as chair of the board. Previously, he has served as vice president and board member, and treasurer and chair of the finance and investments committees, among other leadership positions within the society.

“I am honored to have been elected by my peers to serve as president of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences,” he said. “I am enthusiastic and look forward to representing the Bumpers College, the Honors College and the University of Arkansas in this position. I am excited about serving a profession that is only increasing in significance with the growing desire for nutritious high-quality produce, and that has an impact on crops and plants in our communities and on the environment.”

Rom joined the University of Arkansas faculty in 1989. Since 2005, he has been a professor of horticulture, crop production systems, and sustainable and organic horticulture in the department of horticulture. In 2012, he was named co-director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability in the University of Arkansas System’s statewide Division of Agriculture. He is also the program director and project leader of the National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative and was appointed to the Food Systems Leadership Institute for a two-year program in 2013.

“This is a tremendous honor for Curt and I congratulate him on being elected,” said Bumpers College Dean Mike Vayda. “He is most deserving and will be extremely busy, but this only adds to the prominence of our program, the college and the university.”

Rom earned his bachelor’s degree at the U of A, and master’s and doctoral degrees at Ohio State University. He was named Outstanding Faculty Member by the Associated Student Government in 2013.