The search committee for Virginia Tech’s next dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences invites the campus community to participate in open forum sessions in Blacksburg and Richmond for the three finalists who will take part in visits to Virginia Tech later this month.

The dean serves as chief administrative officer of the college and is responsible for strategically leading the college’s academic and administrative operations. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and its faculty and students are shaping the future of agriculture and life sciences and the land-grant philosophy and mission of Virginia Tech in all its diverse teaching, research, Extension, development, international, and service and outreach activities.

The new dean will replace Alan Grant, who announced his retirement last September after a distinguished 15-year career at Virginia Tech.

Dan Givens, dean of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and chair of the search committee, invites members of the campus community to meet the candidates in-person and via Zoom during the forums. Each candidate will share their perspectives on “Catalyzing Success of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Next Decade.” Links for the open forums will be posted on the senior search website on the morning of each forum.

Tracy Rutherford

  • Monday, April 15, in 145 Steger Hall on the Blacksburg campus and on Zoom. Open forum, 3:30-4:30 p.m. for presentation and Q&A. Reception: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 17, at the Virginia Farm Bureau Auditorium, 12580 West Creek Parkway in Richmond, and on WebEx. Open forum: 2-3 p.m. for presentation and Q&A. Reception: 3-4 p.m.

Rutherford has served as head of the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since July 2019. Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, she was the associate department head of academic programs in Texas A&M University’s Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications and associate department head of undergraduate programs. Rutherford earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from Cornell University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas A&M University.

John Killefer

  • Thursday, April 18, in the Holtzman Alumni Center Assembly Hall on the Blacksburg campus and on Zoom. Open forum: 2:00-3:00 p.m. for presentation and Q&A. Reception: 3-4 p.m.
  • Friday, April 19, at the Virginia Farm Bureau Auditorium, 12580 West Creek Parkway in Richmond, and on WebEx. Open forum: 2-3 p.m. for presentation and Q&A. Reception: 3-4 p.m.

Killefer serves as a tenured professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at South Dakota State University. Prior to this role, he was the South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean and Professor for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at South Dakota State from 2018-22 and professor and department head of animal and rangeland sciences at Oregon State University from 2012-18. Killefer holds a Ph.D. in animal science from Oregon State University and a bachelor's degree in biology from Hastings College in Nebraska.

Mario Ferruzzi

  • Monday, April 22, in the Holtzman Alumni Center Assembly Hall on the Blacksburg campus and on Zoom. Open forum: 3:30-4:30 p.m.for presentation and Q&A. Reception: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 24, at the Virginia Farm Bureau Auditorium, 12580 West Creek Parkway in Richmond, and on WebEx. Open forum: 2-3 p.m. for presentation and Q&A. Reception: 3-4 p.m.

Ferruzzi serves as director of the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center and the Arkansas Children’s Endowed Chair in Digestive Disease and Nutrition Research. Prior to his time at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, he was the David H. Murdock Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute from 2016-21 and professor of food science and nutrition science at Purdue University from 2004-16. He holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in food science and nutrition from the Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Duke University.

The dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences position description, application/nomination process, and search updates are posted and available on the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost website.  

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