Jay Harmon on Jan. 1 was named associate dean for Extension and outreach programs, and director of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension in the College of Ag and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. Harmon has served as interim since April 2017 when John Lawrence was named interim vice president of ISU Extension and Outreach. 

“Dr. Harmon is an outstanding, dedicated and thoughtful leader, and an excellent person for this position,” says Daniel J. Robison, dean of the College of Ag and Life Sciences. “He not only understands the important role ISU Extension and Outreach plays in the state’s economic development, and how it is part of the fundamental mission of ISU, but also how it is infused in the culture and work of our faculty, staff and students. He’s an expert, and we are thrilled to have his leadership.” 

Harmon will lead the comprehensive Ag and Natural Resources program area of Extension for the college. “He was chosen because of his commitment and engagement to animal agriculture and engineering. And to every aspect of agriculture and natural resources, from agronomy to economics, from sociology to molecular biology and from water quality to forestry. He will be the key connection for the college with other programs in Extension, across the state and on campus,” Robison says. 

Expertise and experience 

Lawrence says Harmon has the expertise and experience for this position. “Jay is a humble leader who will do well. He’s worked with Iowans in several roles since he came to Iowa State, and his leadership has helped ISU Extension enhance connections between faculty, staff and students and Iowa’s farmers, agribusinesses, landowners and rural communities.” 

Harmon, a professor of ag and biosystems engineering and an Extension livestock housing specialist, joined ISU’s ag and biosystems engineering faculty in 1993. 

His Extension duties have focused on improving profitability and sustainability through a systems approach to livestock housing, and management of ventilation, cooling and heating systems for swine housing.

He’s advised more than 200 producers on making the best decisions on siting new swine facilities by running an ISU-developed odor assessment model, and has conducted over 150 ventilation workshops for swine producers throughout the state since the program began in 2001. He leads the Ag Systems and Environmental Stewardship Extension Plan of Work team. From 2014 to 2015, he served as interim director of ISU’s Iowa Pork Industry Center. 

Skilled teacher, researcher 

Harmon has taught courses on subjects that include ag engineering design, swine environmental management, ventilation of ag facilities and wood structural design. He also conducts applied research on efficient and sustainable swine production systems. 

Harmon is the professor-in-charge of the Midwest Plan Service at ISU, which produces agricultural engineering publications and materials in collaboration with 12 Midwest universities. In 2015, he was nationally recognized as recipient of the G.B. Gunlogson Countryside Engineering Award for exemplary service to animal production systems from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. He is a fellow of ASABE and a registered professional engineer. 

Harmon earned his bachelor’s degree at Purdue University, his master’s at  University of Minnesota and his doctorate at Virginia Tech, all in ag engineering. 

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