The search for a new distinguished professor of economics and agriculture has led to disagreement between retiring professor Neil Harl and university officials.

Harl currently holds the position.

In 1998 Harl signed a five-year phased retirement that comes to an end Dec. 31. Harl said he has offered to stay until a replacement is found.

University officials require the position to be filled by someone holding both a doctorate and a juris doctorate, as well as have at least three to four years of experience, said Arne Hallam, chair and professor of economics and agriculture.

Harl favors Roger McEowen, associate professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. McEowen does not hold a doctorate, but does hold a juris doctorate. Harl and McEowen have collaborated on five publications as well as other scholarly works.

“[McEowen is] the most qualified person in the country, with or without a Ph.D.,” Harl said. “Most ag law programs in the country are not headed by someone with both a J.D. and a Ph.D.”

Hallam said Iowa State has received twelve applications for the position, six of which met the minimum qualifications.

“At research-one institutions, which is what Iowa State is, individuals are expected to have a Ph.D. in their area of expertise if a Ph.D. is offered,” Hallam said.

Hallam said having a Ph.D. is an important credential for Harl’s successor.

“We’re very interested in this individual we hire to combine skills in law and economics; it’s that mixture that we think is really valuable,” he said. “We sifted through people who had Ph.D.s and now a law degree — you need both the economics knowledge and the legal knowledge. We want someone who’s going to do that interface between law and economics.”

Harl, who has been at Iowa State for almost 39 years, said the person chosen to fill his shoes is part of a bigger issue.

“The debate about my successor is more of a debate about where Iowa State is headed,” Harl said.

Harl said there has been a shift at Iowa State toward research and away from teaching and extension.

“There is no longer a favorable attitude toward diversity of activity,” Harl said. “The only ranking that produces credibility is based on the number of journal publications, which emphasizes research. It downplays and ignores extension and teaching.”

Hallam said it is important that a person who will strengthen education, outreach and research be hired.

Harl was a key player in setting the precedent for aspiring to openness of records at the ISU Foundation during the 1996 sale of the Kiley and Marie Powers farm.

Marie Powers left the farm she owned with her husband, Kiley Powers, to the ISU Agricultural Foundation in 1987.

In her will, Marie requested the farm be operated as the “Kiley Powers Farm” and wrote it was “for the purpose of improving and maintaining the farmland and buildings thereon.” Powers died in 1995.

In 1996, the foundation went to court in an effort to sell the land. The judge for the case said after three years the Foundation could sell the farm and use proceeds from the $1.2 million estate for a renovation project in Kildee Hall.

In March 2001, the Foundation board voted not to give $516,000 to the Kildee project, but use the money for “educational purposes.”

“If we don’t have open records, those who are making decisions, those who are expending funds and those who are making representations to donors who may or may not be honorable may never come to light,” Harl said.

Hallam said replacing Harl will be next to impossible.

“Neil [Harl] has been an absolutely outstanding faculty member,” Hallam said.

“There is no way that you could hire someone that would be able to do all the things Neil [Harl] has done at the level of expertise he has done. Realistically, to do the kinds of things he’s done over his career, you’d have to hire two or three faculty members.”