Released: February 21, 2007

Hahn Named Interim Head Of K-State’s Grain Science Department

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Richard “Dick” Hahn has been named interim head of Kansas State University’s Department of Grain Science and Industry.

This will be Hahn’s second turn in the spot. He served as grain science department head from 1992 to 1996, at which point he retired from K-State. Since then, he has worked as a consultant in industry, specializing in research, grain processing and commercialization of value-added products from agricultural raw materials.

Prior to his first term as a K-State department head, he served as the director of the Kansas Value-Added Center at K-State from 1989 to 1992. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Illinois from 1987 to 1989.

“Having served as department head for four years, Dick Hahn comes with a breadth of experience at the university level to fill the interim position and lead the department forward,” said Fred Cholick, dean of K-State’s College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension. “He also has retained excellent ties to the industry.”

Hahn began his life in academia after he had worked in industry for more than 31 years. He was vice president for research, development and quality assurance for A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co. in Decatur, Ill., from 1975 until 1987. Prior to that he was a senior chemist and director of food and industrial products for Staley and also worked for 11 years as a project leader for Harvest Queen Mills in Plainview, Texas.

Hahn earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in physical-organic chemistry at K-State.

The grain industry veteran also completed advanced management training in programs at Harvard Business School and a Mahler Associates MBA.

Cholick said that Hahn will serve a year or until the permanent position is filled. He succeeds Virgil Smail, who served as department head from 2004 until early 2007. Smail left to take a position with Ventria Bioscience Corp.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Mary Lou Peter-Blecha
mlpeter@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News