Karim Maredia has been named a senior global scholar and the director of agriculture and natural resources international programs in the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR).

In this new role, Maredia will lead the launch of a global scholars program designed to provide established and early career faculty members with opportunities, guidance and mentoring in international teaching, research and outreach.

Maredia will help to identify global scholars, who will work to address some of the most significant challenges facing agriculture and natural resources, including food security and resource sustainability.

“Dr. Maredia has been an invaluable member of our college’s international efforts for many years, and I’m looking forward to his continually evolving leadership in research, outreach and faculty development,” said Ron Hendrick, the dean of CANR. “This appointment is part of an effort to ensure that international work is woven into as many of our endeavors as possible.”

In addition to the global scholars program, Maredia will aim to broaden CANR’s international portfolio by strengthening relationships with governments, agencies and collaborators around the world. He will be creating strategies to link international opportunities to the department and unit level at MSU.

Maredia, who joined MSU in 1989, has dedicated his career to international development, particularly offering his expertise in integrated pest management, food security and biotechnology.

He is a professor in the Department of Entomology and the director of the World Technology Access program, which offers training, capacity building and technology transfer services that benefit developing countries.

Prior to MSU, Maredia served as a research scientist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico working with plant breeders to develop insect-resistant crops.