An experienced administrator has been named the new head of Mississippi State University’s North Mississippi Research and Extension Center.

Steve Martin assumedhis duties at the center’s Verona headquarters on Dec. 1. Previously, he servedas the director of the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, where he was an administrator since 2008.

“Dr. Martin has provided exceptional leadership at the Delta R&E Center, the largest of the branch experiment stations, and we are confident that he will serve north Mississippi well,” said George Hopper, director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

As director, he will oversee the daily operations of this regional facility, one of four strategically located across the state to meet the local information, research and programming needs of Mississippians. The center serves as a hub of Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and Mississippi State University Extension Service research and outreach activities.

Martin began his career with MSU in 1997 as a graduate research assistant in the Department of Agricultural Economics. After attaining a bachelor’s in agricultural and Extension education and a master’s in business administration, he earned his doctorate in agricultural economics, all from MSU.

“Dr. Martin is an accomplished grant writer, researcher and Extension educator,” said MSU Extension director Gary Jackson. “In addition to publishing in professional journals and popular press publications, he is well known in the Southeastern region for his agricultural commodities marketing expertise.”

Martin will be responsible for the administration of research programs at four branch experiment stations: Northeast Mississippi in Verona, North Mississippi in Holly Springs, Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods in Pontotoc and Prairie in Prairie.