Potomac State College of West Virginia University Interim President Kerry Odell was recently presented with the Southern States Cooperative Agriculture Leadership Award, considered the most prestigious honor in the field.
Don Michael, state supervisor for Agricultural Education with the West Virginia Department of Education, presented Dr. Odell with the engraved silver bowl during a Potomac State alumni dinner that was held at Fazzios Restaurant in Charleston.
Michael explained that the award was initiated in 1961 to recognize an individual who has demonstrated premiere leadership to the profession. Candidates are nominated and voted by their peers, which this year totaled 94 agricultural educators across the state. Since its inception, the award has been presented annually in cooperation with the agricultural education profession.
Dr. Odell has certainly demonstrated through his many years as an instructor and associate dean at WVU and now as interim president at Potomac State College, that he not only cares for the students but also for the educators who are preparing the next generation for exciting careers in agribusiness, agriculture and natural resources,stated Michael.
West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglas participated in the presentation noting that he has watched Dr. Odell rise through the ranks of West Virginia higher education to his present role at the college.
Odell went to Potomac State College, a two-year residential, regional campus in July 2003 to serve as interim president. Prior to that, he was an associate professor of agricultural and environmental education. The program, housed in the Davis Colleges Division of Resource Management, stresses communication and leadership skills to prepare students for positions in teaching, extension, environmental technology, government, industry or entrepreneurship. His research focuses on leadership and education in agriculture and natural resource production.
He served as the colleges associate dean for academic affairs and development from 1994-2000. Before that, he was an associate professor of agricultural education.
He has a doctorate from The Ohio State University, a masters degree from The Pennsylvania State University, a bachelors degree from the University of Georgia and an associates degree from State University of New York at Alfred.