Dr. Daniel Leskovar has been named resident director of the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, effective immediately.

The Uvalde center was established in 1974 and employs approximately 60 individuals who conduct research and deliver Texas AgriLife Extension Service programs.

The announcement was made by Dr. Craig Nessler, director of Texas AgriLife Research, part of the Texas A&M University System.

Leskovar, an AgriLife Research crop physiologist, has been a researcher and professor of vegetable stress physiology at the Uvalde center since 1991.Leskovar also is affiliated with the system’s Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center and its horticultural sciences department at Texas A&M University.

“Dr. Leskovar will lead the research efforts of the center, which include ecologically sound natural resources management and conservation practices, animal nutrition, and forage and crop improvement,” Nessler said.

Leskovar completed his undergraduate work and graduate training in Argentina and Holland, earned his master’s degree in vegetable crops from the University of California-Davis and earned his doctorate in vegetable crops physiology from the University of Florida-Gainesville in 1991.

He has received numerous awards and has been recognized for his work, which has included efforts relating to seed quality, transplant stress physiology and stand establishment, subsurface drip irrigation and phytochemicals, vegetable crop production systems, and specialty crops. Leskovar also has written or peer-reviewed dozens of journal articles and has contributed to several chapters and books, along with participating in numerous scholarly proceedings.

Additionally, he has been involved in securing more than $8 million in research grants and contracts from various sources, as well as in-kind donations.

“We are fortunate to have a person of Dr. Leskovar’s experience serve in this important role, and I am confident he will provide excellent leadership,” Nessler said. “Daniel has a firm grasp on the issues of primary importance to the current and future success of agriculture in the region. In addition to expanding the activities of the facility, he and center staff will work together to bring further innovative research and knowledge that will benefit area producers.”

“I am honored to have been chosen as resident director of the Uvalde Center,” Leskovar said. “I look forward to continuing to work with my center cohorts as we expand vegetable and row-crop research, maintain and expand our efforts related to livestock and find new ways to conserve water in support of the region’s agricultural and commercial recreation interests, including ecotourism and hunting.”

Leskovar said he hopes to find more opportunities for collaboration between AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension personnel at the Uvalde center, as well as opportunities to collaborate with other AgriLife centers throughout the state.