Biography:

McArthur Floyd is Professor of Soil Microbiology and Research Director of the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Alabama A&M University. He received the B.S. in Agronomy and Chemistry from Alabama A&M in 1967. At Purdue University, he achieved the MS and Ph.D. degrees in Soil Microbiology in 1974 and 1976, respectively.

He has twenty-three years of experience, as Director/Environmental Soils Laboratory and instructor of Introductory Soils, Land-use Planning and Soil Microbiology courses. In 1985, he was the first recipient of the School-wide Outstanding Teacher Award, and in 1994. Other achievements include developing an audio-tutorial/self-paced study laboratory for the aforementioned courses; regular guest lecturer for the Master Gardener Program, Huntsville Herb, and Botanical Garden Societies; receiving the School's nomination for the USDA's National Award Program for Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences. Additionally, he has completed several research studies in a program designed for the development of environmental quality and eco-system management strategies.

Dr. Floyd is the current chair of the Association of Research Directors, Inc. He is active in the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), as a member of the ASA Executive VP Search and Advisory and the SSSA Fellows Committees ('98-'99); chair of the Norvatis Awards Committee, served on the Minorities in Agronomy Committee ('97-'99); and has participated on the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges' (NASULGC) Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Support for Science, Education and Extension; and the Board on Agricultural Budget Committee. He has served on ESCOP Budget and Strategic Planning Committees, and is a graduate of the first State Agricultural Experiment Station Leadership Development Course.

The Soil Science Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, and the Society of American Foresters also highlight Dr. Floyd's professional resume. Internationally, his experience has been with the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, and West Africa.