Dr. Jane Dever has been inducted into the 2025 Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame, recognizing her over 40 years of work in the cotton industry. William Kimbrell, president and chief executive officer of Cotton Incorporated, commented on her contributions: “Dr. Dever’s impact on the cotton industry has been extraordinary. Her leadership in cotton breeding, her commitment to advancing fiber quality, and her dedication to training the next generation of scientists have strengthened the competitiveness of U.S. cotton for decades to come. We are proud to celebrate her remarkable achievements and lifelong service to the industry.”
Dr. Dever currently directs the Pee Dee Research and Education Center at Clemson University and is a professor in Plant and Environmental Sciences there. Before joining Clemson, she was associate director at Texas A&M AgriLife Lubbock Research and Extension Center and served as a professor in Soil and Crop Sciences.
Her career includes recognition as an American Society of Agronomy Fellow, Texas A&M Regents Service Fellow, and recipient of the Cotton Genetics Research Award. She has contributed to federal advisory councils focused on genetic resources and crop improvement.
Dever’s previous roles include global cotton breeding manager at Bayer CropScience, senior research scientist at Biotex, textile engineer at Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, and head of materials evaluation for the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute at Texas Tech University.
She grew up in Lubbock, Texas on a family farm producing cotton, wheat, and grain sorghum. Dr. Dever earned degrees from Texas Tech University: a B.S. in Textile Engineering, M.S. in Crop Science, and Ph.D. in Agronomy.
The Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame honors leaders who have advanced science, sustainability, production methods, or market competitiveness within the sector.
Cotton Incorporated is a not-for-profit organization funded by U.S. growers and importers that supports research projects related to agricultural innovation and market analysis each year. More information about its mission can be found at https://www.cottoninc.com/.
