Purdue University Board of Trustees appoint Johnson to crop sciences endowed chair

The Purdue University Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of William Johnson, professor of weed science in the botany and plant pathology department, to the position of the Corteva AgriScience Henry A. Wallace Chair in Crop Sciences.

William Johnson In nominating Johnson for the position, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture Bernie Engel wrote: “Dr. Johnson's cutting-edge research, with a specific focus on addressing the needs of farmers in Indiana and neighboring states, coupled with his impactful mentorship of both graduate and undergraduate students, positions him as an excellent fit for this esteemed chair.”Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education Ron Turco praised Johnson’s scholarly impact. “Dr. Johnson's exceptional record in weed management, especially in corn and soybeans, has garnered national and international recognition. His innovative research, published in top-tier journals and supported by numerous grants, reflects his commitment to advancing the field.”

Johnson, who joined the Purdue faculty in 2002, focuses on researching weed management that directly impacts crop productivity, resilience and quality, reduces environmental impacts and enhances food security.

Johnson described how this appointment will impact his work. “I am very honored to receive this recognition for my work on the war against weeds. I am a true believer in the land grant mission of extending our cutting-edge research results to the ultimate end user of our information, the Indiana farmer and their farming operations. This chair will allow me to continue to do my work on finding the most economical, efficacious, and environmentally sound approaches involving herbicides, non-chemical control methods, and the use of new technology to minimize the impact of weeds on crop yields and productivity.”

The Corteva AgriScience Henry A. Wallace Chair in Crop Sciences supports a faculty member who applies modern technology to crop science. Corteva Agriscience provided the gift funds for this position in 2018 that were matched by the anonymous donor who established the College of Agriculture Endowed Chair Challenge Matching Gift Program

Featured Stories

fern rice
Fern Rice Named Truman Scholarship Finalist

Purdue University College of Liberal Arts and Purdue Agriculture junior Fern Rice has been named...

Read More
A headshot of Isabela Santos.
From biosystems engineering to dairy science

Engineering meets dairy science in Isabela Santos’ research.

Read More
group picture at the Purdue fish fry
2026 Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry

On February 7, 2026, The Food Safety Human Factor Lab participated in The Purdue Ag Alumni Fish...

Read More
Purdue College of Agriculture.
Salmon Recalled Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

On February 11, 2026, Wellesley Farms announced a recall of 2lb packs of Farm-Raised Atlantic...

Read More
Meihls poses next to rocks in Peru
Ag Boilers Abroad: Expanding education across continents

For Hayvn Meihls, studying abroad started with a leap of faith and turned into a passion for...

Read More
Eight Purdue Dairy Club students stand in front of a University of Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneer backdrop at the Midwest ADSA-USD annual meeting.
Purdue Dairy Club combines competition, career development at Midwest ADSA-USD Meeting

Nine Purdue students represented the Dairy Club at the 2026 Midwest ADSA-USD Regional Meeting.

Read More