Dr. Robert A. Easter, Ph.D.

Dr. Robert A. Easter, Ph.D.
Chancellor & Provost (Interim)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Robert A. Easter is Chancellor and Provost (interim) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Professor of Animal Sciences and Nutritional Sciences. Prior to his appointment as Interim Provost, Dr. Easter served as Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) from 2002-2009. He has served as Head of the Department of Animal Sciences from 1996 to 2001, and has been on the Animal Sciences faculty since 1976.

In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Easter to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD), and in 2007 he was appointed as chair of BIFAD. Dr. Easter is also a member of the American Society of Animal Science, the British Society of Animal Science, The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology and the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). His teaching has been recognized by the Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Science and at the departmental and college levels. In 1992 Dr. Easter received the American Feed Industry Association Award in Non-ruminant Nutrition Research from the American Society of Animal Science. In 1994 the University of Illinois College of Agriculture awarded Easter with the prestigious Paul A. Funk Award for contributions to Illinois agriculture.

Dr. Easter has spoken to audiences in the U.S. and 27 foreign countries on swine nutrition. He co-authored a book on swine production and has written more than 90 peer-reviewed articles, 11 book chapters, four monographs and numerous papers for conferences and industry publications.

Along with his graduate students, he has investigated the amino acid needs of the lactating sow, the impact of post-weaning nutrition on growth composition to market and the use of various agents to alter lean growth in pigs. Nineteen students earned their doctoral degrees under his direction.

In his present role, Dr. Easter is the chief budgetary officer for the campus. He oversees all financial programs, policies and priorities that that have been designed to ensure a memorable educational experience for students. The campus has a budget of $1.5B with over $400M in research expenditures. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is embarking on a $1.5B capital campaign which is expected to be completed by 2011.