Editor’s note: The following message was sent to the campus community on Dec. 12.

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce that CSU has formed a 14-member search committee to begin a national search for our next Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS). James Pritchett will continue to serve as dean until the new dean is in place. Dr. Pritchett also will serve as the new Vice President for Engagement and Extension effective Jan. 1, 2024.

In a September message to the CSU community, President Amy Parsons named A. Alonso Aguirre, Dean of the Warner College of Natural Resources and Sue VandeWoude, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences as search committee co-chairs. The rest of the committee was recently seated and provided the official charge. The full committee comprises:

Co-chairs
Alonso Aguirre – Dean, Warner College of Natural Resources
Sue VandeWoude – Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Committee members
Matt Camper – Assistant Dean of Teaching Practice and Academic Programs, College of Agricultural Sciences
Terry Engle – Professor and Associate Department Head, Department of Animal Sciences
Todd Gaines – Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Biology
Mengmeng Gu – Professor and Head, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Mark Gustafson – Former CSU System Board of Governors, Agricultural Industry Executive
Erin Karney – Executive Vice President, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
Dallas May – Chair, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission
Paula Mills – Chief of Staff and Operations, College of Agricultural Sciences
CJ Mucklow – Interim Director of Field Operations, CSU Extension
Taylor Szilagyi – Executive Vice President, Colorado Farm Bureau
Dawn Thilmany – Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Kelly Wrighton – Gordon and Joan Bishop Professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences

Support
Mary Dolce – Executive Assistant to the Dean, WCNR
Shamera Loose – Executive Assistant to the Dean, CVMBS

Equal Opportunity Coordinator
Emily Rogers – System Administrator for the Talent Management System and Coordinator for Search Process

The committee will be sharing further search information in the coming weeks including the job posting and prospectus, and an anticipated timeline all of which will be made available on a website linked to the President’s Office “Work with Us” page. Additionally, CSU faculty and staff are encouraged to send nominations of potential candidates for this vital position directly to Dr. Aguirre at a.alonso.aguirre@colostate.edu or Dr. VandeWoude at sue.vandewoude@colostate.edu.

I am grateful to the committee members for their service and commitment in recruiting outstanding internal and external candidates for the role of CAS dean. We anticipate having a new dean announced before the end of the spring semester.

Sincerely,

Jan

Janice L. Nerger, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs