News Advisory: Prominent Area Resident Hosts Reception For New Agriculture Dean

BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 7, 2003 – A reception will be held on Oct. 9 to welcome Sharron Quisenberry, the new dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. The reception will serve as a chance to introduce Quisenberry to alumni and friends of the university.

The event will take place at the home of H.C. Pratt on Green Spring Road in Abingdon from 6 to 8 p.m. Quisenberry will discuss her vision of agriculture in Virginia during the reception.

"The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Virginia Tech have an exciting future with tremendous opportunities for cutting-edge programs in Extension, instruction and research," Quisenberry said. "A major reason for me taking this position is because of the excellent quality of the faculty, staff and students in this college and the university."

Quisenberry took over the leadership of the college on Aug. 1 following the retirement of Andy Swiger last January.

Quisenberry previously served for four years at Montana State University as the dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Montana Agriculture Experiment Station.

The dean said that she is strongly optimistic about the future despite the challenges of budget reductions and loss of faculty members. "There are some missing pieces and we will do our best to address those critical needs while addressing future needs."

Saying that much of the quality of life enjoyed in the United States today is because of the "Golden Age of Agriculture," Quisenberry believes that America is poised on the cusp of a second Golden Age. "How we focus our future can have a more profound impact on society, even more than what we have accomplished in the past," she said.

NOTE FOR REPORTERS: Reporters attending this reception will be given the opportunity for an individual interview with Dean Quisenberry. The reception is by invitation only; therefore, we are not asking for an advanced story. Please contact Stewart MacInnis at (540) 231-5863, or by e-mail at vtnews@vt.edu for additional information.