The University of Maryland selected Wendy Powers as the new dean of the agriculture and natural resources college, this university announced Friday.
Powers is the dean of Washington State University’s agricultural, human and natural resource sciences college. She is set to begin her role at this university on July 1. Her appointment comes after Craig Beyrouty announced he was stepping down as dean at the end of June.
“I am thrilled to join the University of Maryland, one of the most prestigious land-grant research universities in the nation, to build upon more than a century of work to serve the public good,” Powers wrote in the news release.
In addition to leading the agriculture and natural resources college, Powers will direct the Agricultural Experiment Station and the University of Maryland Extension, which provides support to Marylanders across the state through research and education, according to a university news release.
[UMD information college dean Keith Marzullo to step down June 30]
As a dean at Washington State University, Powers leads 13 departments and schools in the college and the Washington State University Extension. She has improved her college’s ranking, secured millions of dollars in gifts and grant expenditures and focused on supporting the college’s land-grant mission, according to the news release.
Powers previously served in various positions and in leadership roles at the University of California, Iowa State University and Michigan State University, according to the release.
Her research focuses on reducing the livestock industry’s impacts on the environment.
“Dr. Powers possesses an exceptional track record in leading agricultural colleges to achieve remarkable success in fulfilling their core mission of serving communities,” senior vice president and provost Jennifer King Rice wrote in release.
