Douglas L Steele, Ph.D.
Vice President for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Association of Pulbic and Land-Grant Universities
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) is a membership organization that fosters a community of university leaders collectively working to advance the mission of public research universities. Dr. Douglas Steele was appointed as Vice President for the Office of Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources on January 2, 2019. He strongly believes in the power of the Land-Grant University to provide access and affordability to higher education, increase the profitability of agricultural enterprises and transform families, youth and communities. His prior positions and appointments include Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (2012-2018) and Vice President for External Relations and Director of Extension for Montana State University (2004-2012). Dr. Steele previously held Extension and faculty positions at Colorado State University, where he was assistant director and State 4‐H Program leader, and at Purdue University, where he served as an Extension specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
On the national level, Dr. Steele has served as chair of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee, national BAA Policy Board of Directors, and the National 4-H Congress Board of Directors. He’s also served as Trustee for National 4-H Council, officer of the eXtension Foundation Executive Committee, and Co-chair of the ECOP Marketing and Communications Task Force.
Dr. Steele has received several awards of distinction including the Visionary Leadership Award, Montana State University Extension; the F. A. Anderson Distinguished Service Award, Colorado State University; Texans Caring for Texans honoree; and the National Friend of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Superior Service Award for Excellence, United States Department of Agriculture. Throughout his career he has received over 10 million dollars in funding to support curriculum development, rural development work and engagement activities.
Dr. Steele has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science/Agri Business from Panhandle State University, Goodwell, OK; a Master of Agriculture degree in agronomy from West Texas State University, Canyon, TX; and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. He currently resides in Bowie, MD with his wife, Lori, and has four grown children and four grandchildren.