A
dynamic continuity
or
nearly five years, this magazine has kept you up to date on
the latest news of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the activities
of its teachers, researchers, extension professionals, students and alumni. You
will find all of that and more in this summer issue of Perspectives, which comes
to you in the midst of a time of great change in the College.
In May, Dean James L. Oblinger became N.C. State University’s provost and executive vice chancellor of academic affairs. At that time, Dr. Oblinger asked that I serve as interim dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. I come to this role from my position as associate dean and director of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service.
In his farewell letter, Dr. Oblinger encouraged the College family to build ever stronger academic, research and extension programs that anticipate change while continuing to make a difference for our students, our state, our citizens and our world.
It’s what I call a dynamic continuity: The exceptional strength and quality of our faculty, staff, students and alumni keep the College well-positioned to handle challenges and to take the lead in anticipating and adapting to change.
In this issue, you will encounter some of the people of the College who make this dynamic continuity possible. People like J. B. Coltrain, the Martin County Extension director who developed a spreadsheet program to help farmers understand the new Farm Bill; Theo van Kempen, Department of Animal Science, whose research team is developing an innovative system of swine waste management; Susan Reece, Pitt County Extension agent, who successfully partnered with local groups to host a timely Hispanic Health Fair; Melissa Adams, recent zoology graduate, Jefferson Scholar and recipient of a 2003-2004 Goldwater Scholarship; David Bird, director of the Center for the Biology of Nematode Parasitism, whose work in identifying genes responsible for parasitism may yield ways to combat costly plant diseases; and Mike Walden of Agricultural and Resource Economics, who regularly makes economic issues understandable for radio and newspaper audiences.
Frances Voliva, the first female county Extension director, recounts her 32 years on the job in Tyrrell County. Dr. Jim Ballington shows us the fruits of his blueberry breeding research at the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Castle Hayne. And in Raleigh, Drs. Eugene J. Eisen of Animal Science and Major M. Goodman of Crop Science receive the Holladay Medal, the university’s highest faculty honor, in recognition of their outstanding careers at N.C. State.
As we bring you news of efforts such as these, I look forward
to our continuing to make our College the institution of
choice for
academic
programs, research
and extension in the agricultural and life sciences.
Interim Dean, College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences
