Dr. Chandra Reddy

student on campus

Chandra Reddy is Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of Research /Administrator of Extension at Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN.  Dr. Reddy earned his B.S. and M.S degrees from India and his Ph.D. degree in Agronomy from the University of Florida in 1982. 

Dr. Reddy has focused much of his research work on soil quality, crop production and environmental sustainability issues.  Dr. Reddy has published his research findings in a number of prestigious journals, books, and conference proceedings, with current totals including 266 publications and numerous externally funded research projects.  He has taught both undergraduate and graduate-level courses and directed the thesis/dissertation research of several M.S. and Ph.D. degree candidates. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America. 

Dr. Reddy currently serves on the Boards of Agriculture Future of America (AFA), 1890 Universities Foundation Board, Emerging Technologies Life Sciences Advisory Board, Ag Launch Technical Advisory Board, and the Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission.  In the recent past, he served on the Boards of National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, and LEAD 21/APLU. He is the current Chair of the Association of Research Directors (ARD) of 1890 land-grant universities.  

Before beginning his tenure at TSU, Dr. Reddy served Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL, as Professor of Agronomy and Dean of Graduate Studies.  Dr. Reddy joined TSU in 2008 as Dean and Director of Research/Administrator of Extension and has since restructured its land-grant programs and established a highly integrated College of Agriculture.  The integrated structure of the college is benefiting all mission areas resulting in quadrupled undergraduate student enrollment and tenfold increase in graduate student enrollment in Agricultural Sciences. In 2016, TSU Agriculture has graduated the highest number of MS, and Ph. D students in its history and the highest number of BS students in 40 years.  During the last decade, research grant funding in the College has grown by tenfold and TSU has been the leading 1890 institution in terms of securing competitive grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.  TSU’s outreach activities have grown from 13 counties in 2008 to 50 counties in 2015. 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 resulting in 35 state-of-the art research laboratories.

Dr. Reddy is recognized both nationally and internationally and is the recipient of a number of prestigious honors and awards. These include the USDA/NIFA Partnership Award for Effective and Efficient Use of Resources in 2013; the recognition by a House Joint Resolution from the Tennessee State Legislature in 2012 for his outstanding contributions to Tennessee State University and the 2008 George Washington Carver Agricultural Excellence Award sponsored by the US Agency for International Development for his impactful research and institution building efforts in Africa.

Dr. Reddy and his wife, Indira, have two grown sons, Ajay and Ashrit and two grandchildren.

Contact Information:

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

creddy@tnstate.edu
Voice: 615-963-7561
FAX: 615-963-5888





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