Dr. Liam E. Leightley, IALR's new Executive Director

Dr. Liam E. Leightley, IALR's new Executive Director, has been on the job since October 6th. The former Interim Associate Director of Mississippi State University's Forest and Wildlife Research Center, addressing his plans for leadership of the Institute commented, "Fall 2008 finds us in some turbulent times, with a Presidential election and a very real concern about the economy. As I begin my role as IALR's Executive Director, I am thinking about the Institute's role as a catalyst for economic and community transformation. In particular, now is the time for us to be working on developing plans for strategies that will enable us to deliver outstanding research results and educational programs.  The turbulence will pass and, as it does, our work will contribute to the Region's state of readiness to support new economic growth with technology and skilled workers. I look forward to working with the IALR team and our partners in creating exciting transformations for exciting times."  Dr. Leightley has held both academic and university-related administrative positions at institutions here and abroad. Beginning in 1988, he spent 15 years working for Rohm and Haas, one of the world's largest global specialty chemical companies.