Larry Berger, professor of animal science at the University of Illinois, has been named the Marvel L. Baker head of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Animal Science.

He starts Aug. 17, succeeding interim head Sheila Scheideler.

Berger, a northeast Kansas native, began his faculty career at Illinois after receiving his doctoral degree in ruminant nutrition from UNL in 1978. He has been at Illinois for 31 years, serving as professor since 1986.

Berger received an associate's degree in agriculture from Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., and bachelor's and master's degrees in animal science from Kansas State University.

He has received numerous awards for teaching and research, where his emphasis has been on the use of protein and energy nutrition and animal management techniques to improve the production efficiency of beef cattle.

Scheideler has been interim head for two years, succeeding Don Beermann, who became director of the Institutional Animal Care Program in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development.

The Dr. Marvel L. Baker professorship was created by an endowment from Robert and Ardis James of Chappaqua, N.Y. Baker started his career in 1924 at what is now Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. He became a professor of animal science at UNL and served until his retirement in 1963. Mrs. James worked for Baker at UNL after graduating from high school.