Dr. Schuyler S. Korban received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the American University
of Beirut, and completed his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1980. Korban completed a
postdoc at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and then joined the faculty of the University
of Illinois in 1982 and rose to the rank of Professor of Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology. Throughout
his career, he established and maintained vibrant and innovative research and teaching programs in the
areas of plant functional genomics, molecular biology, and biotechnology. He excelled as a graduate
advisor (major advisor to 29 graduate students and served on over 25 other graduate committees),
mentor to undergraduate students, and supervised 22 postdocs and 33 international visiting scholars
and scientists. He was involved in international research consortia that sequenced plant genomes, such
as those of strawberry and pear, and led NSF-funded as well as USDA-funded domestic and international
research and education projects. He has a publication record of over 180 refereed scientific articles, 19
book chapters, and 53 published articles in proceedings and journals, and over 90 invited presentations.
In 2009, he took over the role of Director of International Programs in the College of Agricultural,
Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois where he promoted and strengthened
international engagements and partnerships in various countries in North and Sub-Saharan Africa,
Europe, Central and South America, as well as in Asia. He was successful in garnering competitive funds
(over $60 million) from USAID, USDA-FAS, IIE, NSF-OISE, private sector, as well as from alumni and
friends. Moreover, he established a distinguished track record in promoting international graduate
education opportunities in Africa, Europe, Central America, as well as developing international research
and outreach training programs in over 25 developing countries.
An internationally recognized and award-winning researcher and teacher, Korban serves as Editor-inChief for the journal of PCTOC: Journal of Plant Biotechnology and for the journal of Plant Molecular
Biology Reporter, and serves on the editorial boards of several other scientific journals. He has received
numerous awards such as a Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientists from the Chinese
Academy of Sciences, a Fulbright Distinguished Chair Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. He was a
recipient of an Outstanding International Horticulturist Award, Outstanding Researcher Award, and
Outstanding Graduate Educator Award, all from the American Society for Horticultural Science, as well
as a Crop Science Research Award and a Crop Science Teaching Award, both from the Crop Science
Society of America, among others awards. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science, Crop Science Society of America, International Society for Horticultural
Science, American College of Nutrition, and the American Society for Horticultural Science. He is a
member of the International Association of International Education Administrators, NAFSA:
International Association of Educators, Association for International Agricultural and Rural
Development, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among other professional
societies and organizations.
In his new role at UMass Boston, Korban intends to capitalize on the current strengths in international
research, teaching, and service across all colleges of this campus to develop new and innovative
international and transnational initiatives and programs that would propel UMass Boston to global
preeminence. With the tremendous intellectual capacity and strong interests in global issues, affairs,
and programs, as well as the exceptional academic educational environment in the Boston area, Korban
strongly believes that UMass Boston, as the only public institution of higher education in this global city,
has all the right elements to take on a leadership role in the international and transnational arena. He
plans to promote and strengthen the Study Abroad programs for both undergraduate and graduate
students across all colleges, raise the level of awareness of international funding opportunities for
research and education, facilitate and compete for funding for education, research, and training
programs, pursue active recruitment of international undergraduate and graduate students, particularly
for those that are funded by either their governments, private foundations, or personal financial
sources, increase the numbers of nominations and applications of UMass Boston faculty, staff, and
students for international awards and prestigious fellowship and scholarship programs such as the
Fulbright, Fulbright-Hayes, Boren, Humboldt, and Chateaubriand, among many others, connect with
alumni and friends, develop partnerships with peer institutions (within and outside the UMass system),
and network with corporations, foundations, as well as public and private sectors to expand resources
and endowments. Moreover, he plans to help establish international centers of excellence that are
multidisciplinary and cut across the biological, physical, environmental, and social sciences as well as the
fields of humanities, arts, and information technology, among others. Korban thinks that this institution
is ready to propel into the next level of international and transnational activities and engagements. He
is very excited to join this university, lead the excellent team of professionals in the Office of
International and Transnational Affairs, and serve all faculty, staff, and students of UMass Boston.