Mark A. Williams

Mark A. Williams is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. His research focuses on sustainable organic horticulture systems, plant gene expression regulation, and soil microbiome interactions with plants. He leads the 25-acre Organic Farming Unit of the Horticulture Research Farm and directs the undergraduate curriculum in sustainable agriculture.

Education: PhD in Developmental and Cell Biology (University of California, Irvine, 1998); BS in Botany (University of Kentucky, 1989).

Research emphasizes whole-systems analysis of vegetable production, pest management in cucurbits/peppers/tomatoes/apples, and molecular impacts of soil-derived microbiomes on plant health. His work aims to connect organic practices with microbial migration benefits.

Leadership roles include serving as interim Department Chair since July 2018 and assuming the permanent chair position on October 1, 2019.