While students and visitors only had to worry about receiving a slice of strawberry shortcake on Maryland Day, Lisa Richardson had bigger concerns.
To the sophomore animal sciences major, Maryland Day meant only one thing – a lot of planning for the annual Ag Day.
Luckily, Richardson had the help of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean Cheng-i Wei.
“He was very interested in what we were doing, and he was always asking what he could do to help,” she said. “With his help, it made everything much easier to me.”
The new dean has just finished his first year at the university and already has the reputation of being more hands-on in developing new programs and communicating with students, as well as in emphasizing research within the school.
Though the university began as a small agricultural school, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources fades into the background of today’s huge research institution. In past years, the school began declining in enrollment and interest from students was waning. The school needed a leader who could help it restore the visibility it once had and give it a renewed direction without disrupting its culture.
In September, Wei moved from Oklahoma State University, where he was a professor and associate dean of research and graduate studies in its College of Human Environmental Sciences. Administrators and students said his work ethic, patience and collegial leadership style have ingratiated him with the community.
“He’s been on a whirlwind tour, learning the college, learning the culture of the college and brings a significant amount of energy,” said Leon Slaughter, the college’s associate dean for academic programs.
In a manner similar to the way he chooses his words – carefully, but still executed with ease – Wei said he wants to continue improving the college’s undergraduate research program as he builds bridges within the college and beyond.
Unlike other traditional agriculture school leaders, Wei wishes to improve the college’s academic program by concentrating on public research.
“I think Dr. Wei, his disposition, his background, his style, works well with the University of Maryland,” said Ed Miller, a former associate dean for academic affairs at Oklahoma State who was a colleague of Wei’s. “He’s not off of a farm or ranch. Given his focus on science and research, I think it really fits the college,” he said.
In addition to his responsibilities as dean, Wei assumed administrative oversight of the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, as well as the Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy. He also founded a new center for food safety and security and secured an endowed faculty chair for it, Provost Bill Destler said.
“I have been working hard day and night, no doubt about it,” Wei said.
For his first year, Wei has attempted to build relationships with students and faculty to help them form a cohesive team.
“My job is to try and be a salesman,” he said. “I have to talk and talk and talk. Then I have to demonstrate myself.”
With students and faculty by his side, he wants to push the college and its program forward. Wei knows in order to maintain status as a top public research university, facilities within the college need to meet the latest technologies. However, he doesn’t want to completely revamp the school.
“We all appreciated how willing he was to see how other schools operate,” Richardson said. “He didn’t just want to come in and change everything about the school and the program.”
Contact reporter Christina Lee at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.
