MSU to Begin Search for Dean of College of Agriculture

Montana State University is set to begin a national search for a dean of the MSU College of Agriculture and director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. 

A 22-member committee has been formed to conduct the search.  Brett Gunnink, interim dean of the College of Engineering, is the search committee’s chair.  The committee will be assisted by Greenwood/Asher & Associates, an executive search consulting firm.

Members of the search committee are listed below by name and title in alphabetical order:

Shannon Arnold, assistant professor, Division of Agricultural Education;

Mary Burrows, associate professor and Extension specialist, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology;

Nico Cantalupo, Meagher County Extension agent;

Jessica (Murdock) Cleveland, student services coordinator, College of Agriculture;

Ron de Yong, director, Montana Department of Agriculture;

Krista Lee Evans, executive director, Montana Agricultural Business Association;

Lisa Lone Fight, graduate student, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences;

Brett Gunnink, chair and interim dean, College of Engineering;

Ryan McCormick, president, Montana Grain Growers Association;

Shannon Moreaux, assistant professor, Department of Animal and Range Sciences;

Jim Peterson, Montana state senator;

Lynda Ransdell, dean, College of Education, Health and Human Development;

Errol Rice, executive vice president, Montana Stockgrowers Association;

Tracy Sterling, department head, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences;

Michael Stevenson, president and CEO, Montana State University Alumni Foundation;

Christiana Stoddard, associate professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics;

Joyce Swartzendruber, state conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service;

Luther Talbert, professor, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology;

Randy Tunby, president, Montana Wool Growers;

Ron Ueland, president, Northern Seeds, LLC;

David Wichman, associate professor and superintendent, Central Agricultural Research Center;

Blake Wiedenheft, assistant professor, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases

The MSU College of Agriculture dean and director is responsible for leading one of MSU’s foremost colleges with six departments and one division. In all, 961 students are enrolled in one of 11 undergraduate degree programs. Additionally, there are 147 graduate students across 13 degree programs.  The Montana Agricultural Experiment Station supports faculty, staff and students in on-campus departments, allied facilities, and at seven Agricultural Research Centers in Montana. 

The College of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station are currently led by Glenn Duff, interim dean and director.  Dean and Director Jeff Jacobsen stepped down from the position in September after serving more than 10 years in the position.