Agricultural News
On His Second Day on the Job- New OSU Ag Dean Meets and Greets With State Ag Groups
Wed, 09 Jul 2014 06:03:41 CDT
On his second day on the job officially as the new Dean of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Thomas Coon was welcomed by farm and ranch groups in a reception held at the Oklahoma History Center near the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City. The new Dean will be busy for the next several months in putting names and faces together as he travels across the state at events similar to the one on Tuesday evening.
Dr. Coon told the farm groups that he was looking forward to the challenge of meeting as many farmers, ranchers and other rural stockholders and constituents that are impacted by the teaching, research and extension programs of the Division.
The new Dean told Farm Director Ron Hays that he really looks forward to learning more about Oklahoma and how OSU fits into the fabric of the state. He added that he always enjoys spending time with farmers- as many of them are entrepreneurs in the truest sense.
Coon comes to OSU from Michigan State University, where he was director of Extension and a professor in the department of fisheries and wildlife. At Michigan State, he directed more than 600 staff and faculty on campus and in Michigan's 83 counties.
He also formerly served as associate dean for graduate and international programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and associate department chairperson and acting chairperson in the department of fisheries and wildlife at Michigan State.
Coon will spend the early weeks of his tenure traveling extensively across Oklahoma, meeting people, learning about the state and becoming familiar with its agricultural economy and natural resources.
Even as he gets acquainted with DASNR and Oklahoma, Coon already envisions a robust future for the division that includes having a meaningful influence on a variety of statewide and national issues such as water, climate, bioenergy and biomaterials, and livestock production.
Specifically, he said DASNR has every reason to expect to grow in the number of students served and people impacted through Extension programs, as well as the amount and quality of the research conducted.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear brief comments with the Dean during the Welcome Reception hosted by several Agricultural Groups. Farm Director Ron Hays has been invited to sit down with Dean Coon in the coming week and will be having a more in depth conversation with Dr. Coon at that time- which we will share with you at that time.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
