Richard Roush

Education

• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
• B.S., University of California, Davis

Rick Roush serves as the Dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, which includes 3,000 undergraduate students, 450 graduate students, 250 faculty, and 1,500 staff from all the state’s 67 counties. The College boasts nine academic programs, featuring 17 undergraduate majors, 22 minors, graduate studies in 18 majors, two-year and certificate programs, and online learning opportunities.

In this role, Dr. Roush is responsible for the administration of all the College’s educational, research, government, alumni, industry relations, and Penn State Extension programs. He has particularly focused on key issues facing agriculture and rural communities in Pennsylvania, including water quality, job development, drug addiction, and pest management. 

Dean Roush is internationally recognized for research and implementation of strategies to delay insect pests and weeds from evolving resistance to genetically modified crops and pesticides. Prior to his arrival at Penn State in 2014, Dr. Roush held positions at the University of Melbourne, the University of California, the University of Adelaide, Cornell University, Mississippi State University, and Texas A&M University.