Dr. Joseph A. DiPietro

 
Dr. Joseph A. DiPietro joined the University of Tennessee in 2006 as vice president for agriculture. He came to UT from the University of Florida, where he had been Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine since 1997. DiPietro was previously employed at the University of Illinois as associate dean for research at the College of Veterinary Medicine and assistant director of the Illinois Agriculture Experiment Station. He also was professor of veterinary pathobiology.

As Vice President for Agriculture, DiPietro is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Institute of Agriculture and is responsible for planning, implementing, and leading strong, progressive research, teaching, and extension programs. The Institute of Agriculture is headquartered on the Knoxville campus of the university, but has a strong statewide presence with Extension Offices in all 95 Tennessee counties, 10 research education centers, four 4-H centers, and three regional Extension offices. Through its programs the institute advances plant, animal, human, and environmental health and promotes both rural and urban economic development and growth. The clientele includes students, farmers, homemakers, 4-H and other youth, agribusiness, state and federal governmental agencies, consumers, and the general public.

DiPietro has earned three degrees at the University of Illinois—B.S. (1974), DVM (1976), and M.S. (1980). He is a director of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation and serves on the national agricultural research, education, and economic advisory board to the U.S. secretary of agriculture. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists, the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (administrative heads section). He and his wife, Deborah, live in Knoxville. They have three children.