Dr. Ch. Venu Gopala Reddy is currently serving as the Dean of Student Affairs at PJTAU. He holds a Ph.D. in Extension Education. With over 27 years of experience in teaching, extension, and administration, he has significantly contributed to the field of Agricultural Extension through academic leadership, research, and capacity building. His academic career spans roles from Assistant Professor (1998–2007), Associate Professor (2007–2013), to Professor (2013–present).

As a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Extension, he has taught B.Sc. (Ag), B.Sc. (CA & BM), M.Sc. (Ag), and Ph.D. courses, and has played a key role in curriculum development—especially during the 4th Deans Committee reforms and BSMA (Social Sciences) meetings.

In research, he has guided 20 postgraduate and doctoral students and served as a co-investigator in an ICAR Adhoc project. He has undertaken eight monitoring and evaluation studies of national schemes such as ATMA and RKVY across Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. His prominent extension initiatives includes establishing the PJTAU Agri Info Hub at the Administrative Office, publishing the Telangana Vyavasayam: Diksuchi, and making editorial contributions that helped raise the University Journal of Research NAAS score from 3.35 to 4.38.

As an extension trainer, he served as Course Director/Coordinator for over 60 training programmes for development officers across southern India, and organized 10 faculty development programmes and consultancy trainings for Agriculture departments in Maharashtra and Odisha. He also conducted regional workshops for finalizing training calendars for the Extension Education Institute (EEI), Govt. of India, and coordinated 20 national agricultural exhibitions to showcase university innovations and technologies.

In administration, he served as Associate Dean of Agricultural College, Aswaraopet (2013–2016), where his tenure was marked by stability, infrastructure development, and innovative student activities, including a significant rise in PG admissions. As Principal Agricultural Information Officer since 2016, he has enhanced the university’s visibility through strategic outreach and communication initiatives. He has published 57 research papers, 24 reviews, and over 200 popular articles, and served as Chief Editor for university publications, including 100 monthly farm magazines, seven volumes of PJTAU News and eight volumes of the Journal of Research.

Dr. Reddy initiated student clubs across all colleges to promote students’ overall development. As a State Nodal Officer, he played a key role in launching and organizing the Rythu Mungitlo Sastravethalu – Farmer-Scientist Programme across the state. For the first time in India, Agricultural students were actively involved in such a programme, earning widespread appreciation.

Dr. Reddy has been honoured with the ICAR Best Teacher Award, PJTSAU Best Faculty Award, and the Bapatla Agricultural College Silver Jubilee Gold Medal. His career reflects a strong commitment to academic excellence, impactful extension work, and institutional development.