Mealor appointed WAES interim director

The University of Wyoming (UW) has welcomed accomplished Weed Scientist Dr. Brian Mealor, director of the Sheridan Research and Extension Center (ShREC), as interim director of the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station (WAES). 

Mealor assumed his role on Sept. 2, following outgoing Director Eric Webster’s retirement on Aug. 29.

“I am deeply grateful for the leadership Eric has provided to the WAES and our college. His steadfast commitment to the land-grant mission and his success in expanding support for our research and Extension centers have left a lasting impact,” says Kelly Crane, Farm Credit Services of America Dean in the UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources (CALSNR).

“I am equally excited to welcome Brian to our leadership team,” Crane continues. “With many years of service to Wyoming, Brian has excelled as a researcher, Extension specialist, educator and administrator. His strong commitment to keeping UW relevant, responsive and accountable to our state will serve us well in this interim role.”

New role

As the research arm of CALSNR, WAES supports studies on topics ranging from drought-resistant crops and invasive weed management to livestock production and agricultural economics. 

In addition to supporting on-campus research, WAES operates four research and Extension centers across the state. Located in Laramie, Lingle, Powell and Sheridan, these centers serve as hubs for local, regional and even international research projects.

As WAES interim director, Mealor will help guide statewide initiatives in collaboration with college leadership, in addition to fulfilling local responsibilities at ShREC.

“I want to acknowledge the good Eric has done,” Mealor says. “During his time as director, significant improvements were made at all of the research and Extension centers, especially in terms of equipment, and we’re poised to move forward even more efficiently. The team is really good too, and it’s exciting to help support them.”

Previous experience

A professor of plant sciences, Mealor earned his Master of Science and PhD in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management from UW.

Following his postdoctoral research at UW, Mealor served as director of stewardship for The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming, then returned to UW as an assistant professor of plant sciences and an Extension weed specialist. 

In 2015, he was appointed director of ShREC. 

Mealor says he’s fortunate to have worked with collaborators both on campus and in communities across the state. 

“It helped me get a broad perspective on what applied research can do to help serve people in Wyoming,” he notes.

A nationally recognized expert in weed science, Mealor specializes in the management of annual invasive grasses in western rangelands. 

In addition to his role as director of ShREC, he serves as director of the Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems (IMAGINE). 

Administratively housed at UW, IMAGINE brings together local, state and regional partners to find solutions for the spread of invasive grasses like cheatgrass, medusahead and ventenata. The organization leads scientific research, provides outreach education and develops practical resources for land managers and landowners.  

“We have become one of the most sought-out and trusted resources for strategic management of invasive grasses in rangelands of the western U.S., not just in terms of science but also hands-on support,” Mealor comments. 

He further notes he is committed to bringing this practical, proactive approach to his role as interim WAES director.

Mealor can be contacted at bamealor@uwyo.edu or 307-673-2647.

Brooke Ortel is a writer and editor for UW Extension. This article was originally published by UW Ag News on Aug. 28.