The Rodale Institute Names Timothy J.
LaSalle Chief Executive Officer
KUTZTOWN, PA, June 25,
2007 - The Rodale Institute has announced
the appointment of Timothy J. LaSalle as
Chief Executive Officer. The Institute is
a non-profit organization that has been
pioneering the health and environmental
benefits of organic food and farming since
1947. Previously, Mr. LaSalle served as
Executive Director of the Northwest Earth
Institute.
"Timothy LaSalle has dedicated his
career to educating people about organic
health and global environmental solutions.
I am delighted he will lead the Institute
into a phase of new growth," said Ardath
Rodale, Co-chair of The Rodale Institute.
The Rodale Institute was the brainchild
of J.I. Rodale, who moved to rural Pennsylvania
in the late 1930s to explore his keen personal
interest in farming. Chronic food shortages
following World War II prompted farmers
to increase yields by using nitrogenous
fertilizers from old munitions factories.
Concerned about the health effects of using
these chemicals to grow food, Mr. Rodale
was inspired to develop organic methods
and prove, both scientifically and practically
at the farmer level, that they worked. Sixty
years later, The Rodale Institute is home
to the country's longest-running scientific
study comparing chemical farming with organic.
Results have shown again and again that
organic agriculture is not only more productive
and profitable for farmers, but is also
significantly better for the health of the
soil and environment.
"We aim for The Rodale Institute to
be at the forefront of scientific research
on organic farming and its effects on human
and environmental health, and through those
efforts build a diverse and thriving community
passionate about organic," said Mr.
LaSalle. "I look forward to building
upon the firm foundation established by
J.I. Rodale and the Rodale family."
Mr. LaSalle has extensive executive experience
with various non-profit organizations, including
the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo
County and the Allan Savory Center for Holistic
Management. He served as the President and
CEO of the Agriculture Education Foundation.
For twelve years he was a full professor
at California Polytechnic State University,
where he taught dairy science classes. Mr.
LaSalle has completed all Ph.D. course work
in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate
Institute; he holds a M.S. in Populations
Genetics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University and a B.S. in Science
from California Polytechnic State University.
He has served on many non-profit boards
and committees.
On July 23, 2007, Mr. LaSalle will succeed
John Haberern, the first President of the
Institute who retired in June, 2006 after
46 years of leadership. Following Mr. Haberern's
retirement, the Institute was led by Interim
President Rosalba Messina while the search
for the new CEO was conducted.
The Rodale Institute is a tax-exempt, non-profit
501(c)(3) organization located on a 333-acre
research farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
The Institute's mission is to improve the
health and well-being of people and the
planet through research and education that
focus on organic farming, food and living.
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