About Dean

Dr. Chandra Reddy

Chandra Reddy is Dean of the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences and Director of Research/Administrator of Extension at Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. Dr. Reddy earned his B.S. and M.S degrees from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, India in 1974 and 1977, respectively and Ph.D. degree in Agronomy from the University of Florida in 1982. In 2006 he completed Harvard University’s Management Development Program. Dr. Reddy also completed the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities two-year national leadership development program in 2012, and became a Fellow of the Food Systems Leadership Institute.

An agronomist by training, Dr. Reddy has focused much of his work on soil quality, crop production and environmental sustainability issues. Dr. Reddy’s early research was conducted in Africa while serving on a USAID-funded Institution Building Project, and focused on ways local farmers could improve millet and cowpea production. His more recent research work was conducted in Alabama, developing practices to conserve soils, enhance environmental quality and improve soil productivity in the cotton production systems in the Southeastern US. Dr. Reddy has published his research findings in a number of prestigious journals, books, and conference proceedings; current totals include 251 publications and numerous externally funded research projects. He has taught both undergraduate and graduate-level courses, and directed thesis/dissertation research of several M.S. and Ph.D. degree candidates.

Before beginning his tenure at TSU, Dr. Reddy was with Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL, where he served as Professor of Agronomy for 25 years and Dean of Graduate Studies for six years. He was also Faculty Senate President for three years and became the first faculty member in the school's history to serve on the Board of Trustees.

An active promoter of STEM education, particularly for minorities, Dr. Reddy joined TSU in 2008 as Dean, and has since restructured the School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, oversaw creation of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Sciences, strengthened academic programs, doubled student enrollment in the College and increased graduate student enrollment by several fold. During this time period, research grant funding in the College has tripled to more than $55 million. These accomplishments helped to recruit dozens of new researchers and extension specialists and to triple the College’s outreach presence to 32 counties. Under his leadership, the College has also embarked on a multi-million dollar grant-funded facilities expansion program, including construction of several new buildings and the remodeling and modernization of others.

Dr. Reddy is recognized both nationally and internationally and is the recipient of a number of prestigious honors and awards including the 2008 George Washington Carver Agricultural Excellence Award sponsored by the US Agency for International Development, the 2010 Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, and the 2006 Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. These are considered the highest honors bestowed within the professional agricultural science community, and are achieved by only the top 0.3% of membership based on scholarship, professional service, and peer nominations. Additionally, in 2011, the Tennessee FFA Organization honored Dr. Reddy with an honorary degree. This was followed by a House Joint Resolution from Tennessee State Legislature in 2012 recognizing his outstanding contributions to Tennessee State University.

In 2010, the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, appointed Dr. Reddy to the prestigious National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board for a three year term (2010-13). This Board advises the Secretary on policy matters dealing with food, agriculture, environment, family, youth, community development, and other related issues. Dr. Reddy also serves on the Advisory Board of Life Sciences Center, Cumberland Emerging Technologies. Dr. Reddy and his wife, Indira, have two grown sons, Ajay and Ashrit.

Contact Information:

Office of the Dean
College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences
3500 John Merritt Blvd; TSU Box #9641
Nashville, TN 37209

creddy@tnstate.edu
Voice: 615-963-7561
FAX: 615-963-5532

webpage contact:

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