College LEADERSHIP CHANGES

It has been a busy and exciting year in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences as leadership changes were made to adapt to changing and growing degree programs.

Dirk Vanderwall, Interim Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

Professor Dirk Vanderwall, who served as head of the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS) for nearly nine years and as associate dean of USU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, is now focused solely on his role as interim dean of USU’s newest college: the College of Veterinary Medicine. Vanderwall is leading the transition from USU’s collaboration with the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“It's a tremendous opportunity to work with faculty and staff to transform the school into a new, standalone, four-year College of Veterinary Medicine," Vanderwal said. "The 10 years of experience we have with our partner institutions in the Washington-Idaho-MontanaUtah Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine has placed us in a strong position to pursue this extremely exciting, yet daunting, undertaking.”

Abby Benninghoff, Interim Dept. Head, ADVS

Professor Abby Benninghoff stepped into the position of interim department head in ADVS from her former role as the CAAS associate dean for research and graduate student services. In that role, Benninghoff developed training tools in science communication, data management, and effective grant writing. In the past fiscal year, CAAS researchers were awarded a record $55.22 million in external research funding, more than 31% of all research funding for USU for the year. Some faculty in the department have responsibilities in the College of Veterinary Medicine, but the department includes faculty who specialize in areas commonly thought of as traditional animal agriculture, such as dairy science, equine science, reproduction and development, and animal nutrition. There are also molecular geneticists focused on genetic engineering and biomedical research, including scientists in USU’s Institute for Antiviral Research.

“Shared governance is a priority for me, and it takes time,” Benninghoff said. “But I believe we will move ahead and come through the challenges with a new and robust College of Veterinary Medicine and a more robust department as well.”

Greg Cuomo, Associate Dean

Professor Greg Cuomo is CAAS associate dean of research and graduate student services. He joins us from the University of Minnesota where he served in a similar position for more than 20 years. He has a Ph.D. in agronomy and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in range science and management. Arriving just before the fall semester, Cuomo’s first few months at USU have been invested in listening to faculty and staff to learn about their professional strengths, challenges, and goals.

“The college addresses society’s grand challenges,” Cuomo said. “How do we feed a growing world population? How do we use water in the best way possible? How do we sustain our natural resources? Through the innovation that comes out of the very bright people in this college, we have an opportunity to shape our world going forward.”

Brian Warnick, Interim Dept. Head, TDTE

Professor Brian Warnick is interim head of the college’s new Department of Technology, Design and Technical Education. Warnick served as CAAS associate dean for academic programs and student services during the past several years. His role included overseeing scholarships, supporting the college’s excellent advising team, and shaping many degree programs in the college, including the expansion of career and technical education (CTE) programs. Warnick’s new responsibilities include the technology systems and the outdoor product design and development degree programs as well as the broad portfolio of CTE courses. Programs are often tailored to community and regional workforce needs and opportunities.

“I see these programs as important components of USU’s land-grant mission to create accessibility whether that‘s geographically or academically,” he said. “Our mission is to provide education and opportunities for everyone, including in rural communities. Our Blanding, Price, and Moab campuses have great faculty who are making big impacts in people’s lives and communities and I think we’re just scratching the surface of the positive impact we can have working with the Navajo Nation. We’re making it possible for people to gain education, get better jobs, fill needs in our workforce, and stay where they are, in communities where they want to live.”

Mateja Savoie-Roskos, Associate Dean

Mateja Savoie-Roskos, associate professor of dietetics and director of the master of public health program, now serves as CAAS associate dean for academic programs and student services. Savoie-Roskos is an outstanding educator, having been named the 2018 CAAS Teacher of the Year and the 2020 Outstanding Dietetic Educator in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Western Region.

“I am honored to have been appointed as an associate dean in the college,” she said. “I strongly believe the opportunities, resources, and environment we create for our students play significant roles in their success, well-being, and overall experience at USU. My experiences as a student, and more recently as a faculty member, give me a great appreciation for the impact one mentor can have on an individual’s education and career. I am delighted to serve in a role that gives me opportunities to provide that mentorship while also supporting the efforts of our incredible faculty, staff, and students. This is a very exciting time in our college and I am thrilled to be in this new role!" �

By Ysabel Nehring

The American Society of Horticulture Science (ASHS), recognized worldwide as a leading organization for horticulture science and technology, honored Assistant Professor Youping Sun with its Early Career Achievement Award primarily for a sustainable landscape horticulture program he developed.

Sun was invited to give a presentation on the program at the ASHA’s annual meeting after being selected to participate in the society’s Early Career Competition this year. He was honored with the ASHA’s Outstanding Ornamental Publication award in 2018 and was the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ Faculty Researcher of the Year in 2021.

“Water conservation has become critically important throughout Utah and the Intermountain West, one of the driest and fastest-growing regions in the U.S.,” said Sun.