John Lawrence

Member, Strategy Working Group 

John Lawrence, an Iowa State University (ISU) professor of economics, is no stranger to agriculture. Lawrence has served as associate dean for extension in ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director for Agriculture and Natural Resources for ISU Extension and Outreach since 2010. After a nationwide search, John Lawrence was appointed vice president of Iowa State University’s extension and outreach programs in March of 2018. Lawrence also serves as director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and was a leader in collaborative efforts to develop Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Prior to becoming Associate Dean, Lawrence served as an extension livestock economist and director of the Iowa Beef Center at ISU. Lawrence earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ISU in Animal Science and Economics in 1984 and 1986 (respectively) and a doctorate in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri in 1989. Lawrence was raised on a crop and livestock farm in the southwest portion of the state near Tabor, Iowa. Before attending ISU, Lawrence operated his family farm in the late 1970’s. As a result of his extensive work in agriculture, Iowa Farmer Today named Lawrence as one of the top 25 influential people in Iowa Agriculture over the past 25 years.