Search for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dean underway

BLACKSBURG, Va., March 25, 2009 – Virginia Tech has begun an international search for a new dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, a position that has been held by Dean Sharron S. Quisenberry since 2003.

“Sharron worked very effectively with the many internal and external constituents of the college. We look forward to identifying a leader who will continue to advance the college as the center of the land-grant tradition at Virginia Tech,” said Mark McNamee, senior vice president and provost who chairs the search committee.

In addition to McNamee, members of the search committee are:

• Foster Agblevor, associate professor of biological systems engineering
• Kevin Davy, associate professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise
• Richard Crowder, adjunct professor, agricultural and applied economics
• John Dooley, vice president for outreach and international affairs
• Eric Frazier, Virginia Tech Alumni Association representative
• Beth Grabau, professor and head, Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science
• Annie Hassall, agricultural technician, Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences
• Peter Kennelly, professor and head, Department of Biochemistry
• Katharine Knowlton, associate professor of dairy science
• Loke Kok, interim dean and professor of entomology
• Donna Pugh Johnson, executive director, Virginia Agribusiness Council
• Martha Moore, director of government relations, Virginia Farm Bureau
• George Norton, professor of agricultural and applied economics
• Stephen Schoenholtz, director, Water Research Center, College of Natural Resources
• Gerhardt Schurig, dean, Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
• Cathy Sutphin, associate director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, 4-H
• John Tyson, University Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences
• Peter Warren, Virginia Cooperative Extension agent, horticulture
• Tony Wolf, director, Alson Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center
• Eric Wong, professor of animal and poultry science

The college has been instrumental in advancing agriculture and other life science industries to improve human health and nutrition, sustain agriculture and the environment, and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. The Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and the Virginia Cooperative Extension are seamlessly integrated in the college.

Please visit the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences website for information on programs, faculty, students, and research and extension initiatives.

The search committee welcomes nominations for the position. Please send nominations to: 210 Burruss Hall (0132) or by e-mail (mmcnamee@vt.edu). Applicants must apply on-line at www.jobs.vt.edu, posting number 090083. Applicants must complete a very brief faculty application and attach a vita, letter of interest, vision statement for leading the college, and names of at least three professional references.

For full consideration, all application materials should be received by April 10, 2009.

For additional search updates, visit the Office of the Provost web site.

• Mark Owczarski
• Assistant Vice President for News and Information
• 540-231-5223
• maowczar@vt.edu