Interim Dean Grant Cardon Announces Administrative Team

On July 1, the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources began a new chapter in Utah State University’s story.

The new college is comprised of the former Quinney College of Natural Resources, the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, and the Department of Geosciences.

Professor Grant Cardon said that serving as the college’s interim dean and director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station (UAES) makes him grateful for the talented and committed faculty members who comprise the college’s administrative team.

• Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services, Mateja Savoie-Roskos, will lead our advising team, student ambassadors, and recruitment efforts.
• Associate Dean for Strategic Academic Initiatives, Peter Howe, will oversee college marketing and communications, student internship opportunities, Quinney Scholars Program, and processes to evaluate program structures and how those may evolve to support our mission and serve students and other stakeholders.
• Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, Kara Thorton-Kurth will train and support our departments’ graduate program coordinators and advise the college’s Graduate Student Council.
• Associate Dean for Research, Juan Villalba, will oversee the college’s proposal development specialists and college-wide research activities.
• Utah Agricultural Experiment Station (UAES) governance was recently transferred to the college, and Paul Johnson will serve as associate director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station (UAES).

Our college and UAES Chief Financial Officer, Christine Ballard, brings skills she has developed as CFO of USU Statewide Campuses. Dora Brunson has agreed to postpone her retirement until the end of August to help smooth the transition in an important segment of college and UAES business services.

Cardon noted that many changes at the university have come quickly, necessitated by deadlines the university did not choose.

“There is work ahead and I assure our faculty and staff that there will be opportunities for input as we evaluate resources and opportunities for degree programs, departments, and other entities affiliated with the college,” he said.