Dr. Yencho attained his MSc Entomology in Washington State University (1985) and PhD, Entomology/Plant Breeding (Minor) in Cornell University (1993). He is the Associate Professor and Leader for Sweet potato and Potato Breeding and Genetics Programs, Dept. of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University (2003-present). He also serves as an Advisor both at Sweet potato Micropropagation Center, NCSU, (1997-present) and CALS International Activities Committee, NCSU, 2002-present His research interests include plant breeding, plant resistance to insects and pathogens, use of wild and/or related plant germplasm as a source of commercially important traits, applications of genomics, molecular biology and plant biochemistry to plant breeding and the production of renewable, bio-based, value-added products in sweet potato and potato, and international agricultural development.