Handing Over the Reins

After nine years leading the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, on Sept. 17 Richard Roush stepped down as dean of the college.

Former Department Head and Interim Senior Associate Dean László Kulcsár is serving as interim dean.

"We appreciate all that Rick has done in leading the College of Agricultural Sciences over the past nine years to support and grow the college's vital teaching, research and outreach efforts," said Justin Schwartz, executive vice president and provost. "The college's work is not only an important part of Penn State's land-grant mission, but also has been instrumental in tackling many of the broader issues facing the world today."

Roush was named dean of the college in 2014. Prior to coming to Penn State, he was the dean and a professor at the University of Melbourne's Melbourne School of Land and Environment in Australia.

Under Roush, the college's research enterprise continued to flourish, with annual research expenditures hitting a new record of $114.3 million for 2021-22, placing it among the top-performing academic colleges over the past decade. Its Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, formed in 2020, has earned more than $49.5 million in grants and now involves 150 faculty across eight academic colleges and four Commonwealth Campuses.

The College of Agricultural Sciences continues to be recognized by the state and federal government as a research leader, including Penn State Extension's work to promote and support water quality in Pennsylvania's streams and rivers. In addition, extension has been recognized by peers as a national leader in digital education, and has dramatically increased its reach across the commonwealth and the world.

—Amy Duke