UK Appoints Hancock to Lead Research Center in Kentucky

By Blake Jackson

The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) has appointed Dennis W. Hancock as executive director of the UK Research and Education Center (UKREC) and the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence in Princeton, Kentucky.

In this role, Hancock will provide strategic and operational leadership for the 1,600-acre facility, working closely with faculty, staff, administrators and stakeholders to strengthen research, Extension and educational programs that support agriculture across the state.

Hancock will play a key role in expanding UKREC’s impact and enhancing its reputation as a nationally recognized hub focused on grain, forage, livestock, tobacco and horticultural systems. His leadership will support the center’s mission of advancing innovative research and delivering valuable programs to Kentucky farmers and communities.

“Dr. Hancock is an accomplished leader with a deep understanding of our land-grant mission and a proven ability to build partnerships that connect research, education and Extension,” said Dr. Laura Stephenson, vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of Martin-Gatton CAFE. “His experience leading large, multidisciplinary organizations and his Kentucky roots make him uniquely qualified to help guide UKREC into its next chapter and expand its impact across the Commonwealth and beyond.”

Hancock currently serves as director of the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, Wisconsin, where he also works as the USDA Agricultural Research Service location coordinator.

In this role, he manages a $20.5 million budget, oversees more than 100 employees, and collaborates with universities, producers, and industry partners nationwide. His leadership has contributed to workforce expansion, increased research capacity, and major facility improvements.

A native of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, Hancock brings strong ties to the state. He earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Kentucky and previously served in Extension and research roles within the college.

Hancock will officially begin his new position on January 1, 2027.

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