Inside Iowa State

July 22, 2005

Woteki resigns as Agriculture dean

by Brian Meyer, Ag Communications

Catherine Woteki, dean of the College of Agriculture since January 2002, announced July 5 that she will resign to take a position with a national food company. Her resignation is effective July 31. Senior associate dean Wendy Wintersteen will serve as interim dean while a search is conducted for a new permanent dean.

Woteki will become global director of scientific affairs at Mars Inc. She will be located at company headquarters in McLean, Va.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as dean of agriculture at Iowa State, and I will miss the faculty, staff, students and the Ames community. But this is an exciting opportunity for me, and it will allow me to be closer to family in the Washington, D.C. area," Woteki said.

Woteki is a nutritional epidemiologist, and prior to becoming dean, she served as a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park, and professor of nutrition and food safety at the University of Nebraska. From 1997 to 2001, she was first under secretary for food safety in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"Dean Woteki has done an outstanding job at Iowa State, in directing the College of Agriculture, developing important ties with public officials and agricultural interests around Iowa, and providing leadership in a number of campus projects," said President Gregory Geoffroy.

During Woteki's tenure, the College of Agriculture has undergone major changes while retaining its reputation as one of the leading colleges of agriculture in the world. She oversaw reorganization of the biological sciences departments; supported new research initiatives in animal genomics, food safety, water and air quality; and strengthened outreach to farmers through the Corn and Soybean Initiative. Plans have been finalized for a new dairy research and teaching farm.

Friday, July 29
3 to 5 p.m.
Campanile Room, MU
A brief program will begin at 3:30 p.m.