The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University is Oregon's principal source of knowledge relating to agricultural and food systems, and a major source of knowledge regarding environmental quality, natural resources, life sciences, and rural economies and communities worldwide. The College provides undergraduate and graduate education leading to baccalaureate and graduate degrees, and extended education programs throughout Oregon and beyond. Its research programs create knowledge to solve problems and to build a knowledge base for the future. It is a source of information and expertise in integrating and applying knowledge with benefits that are felt in domestic and international settings.
May 5, 2020
After a year of planning and consultation and as part of the College’s overall strategic planning, the Dean’s office introduced a new structure effective May 1. This structure aims to better align capabilities and expertise of existing talent with defined goals and critical functions for the College. Unit leaders across the College have been involved in this process so can help guide questions and needs to the appropriate person. The positions in the new structure and duties of each role are as follows:
Executive Associate Dean
– Dr. Staci Simonich
This role is responsible for the oversight, management and coordination across teaching, research and Extension mission areas among other duties. It also leads supervision of department heads and BES directors, including annual evaluations and mentoring, as well as assisting in the overall budgeting and planning for the College. Dr. Simonich succeeds Dr. Bill Boggess who has announced his intent to retire in the near future.
Associate Dean of Academics (undergraduate and graduate)
– Dr. Penny Diebel
This role serves to identify needs and set the program vision and priorities for academics, including curriculum, recruiting, student success, programmatic enrichment and career preparation, among other duties.
Associate Dean of Research
– Dr. Joyce Loper
The primary role is to provide leadership for our research enterprise including the articulation of research vision and priorities, cultivating and creating research opportunities across multiple channels. In addition, growing our corporate funding partnerships will be a new area of emphasis.
Assistant Dean of Research and Associate Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station
– Dr. John Talbott
This position manages the operation and both the regional and national integration of the OAES into the broader land-grant University system. This includes funding, organization and reporting. There is also a major emphasis on cultivating major funding opportunities and supporting the teams assembled to pursue them.
Associate Dean of Extension
– Dr. Sam Angima
This position provides leadership across the agriculture and natural resources program of OSU Extension as well as being a liaison to the other Extension program areas and the Director’s office. This person also engages with regional and national Extension organizations. Through partnerships with counties, governmental agencies and industry organizations, this position develops program and funding partnerships statewide and supervises the personnel to accomplish them.
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
– Dr. Dan Edge
The purpose of this role is to focus on the oversight of faculty hiring, onboarding and professional development. This includes promotion and tenure, leadership development, performance evaluation and awards. An important part of this position is to evaluate and enhance an environment that fosters diversity, equity and inclusion.
Chief Operating Officer
– Jack Breen
This position manages the overall enterprise operations of staff, facilities, business operations and policies. Planning and prioritizing operational standardization and optimization, including efficiency improvements, the COO leads financial, IT, facilities and human resources oversight.
As funding permits, additional future roles planned for the Dean’s Office to lead other critical areas that will support the overall growth and development of the College include:
- International Programs
- Climate, Diversity and Inclusion
- Director of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships