AMES, Iowa — A medallion ceremony in the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences celebrated the installation of Daniel Robison as the holder of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Endowed Dean’s Chair. Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen presented the medallion April 24 in the Dolezal Auditorium in Curtiss Hall.
“We are delighted to recognize Dr. Robison as the new holder of the Endowed Dean’s Chair,” Wintersteen said. “The support provided through this position combined with Dr. Robison’s leadership and vision will enable exceptional opportunities to advance the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as one of the world’s most influential and innovative institutions of its kind.”
Robison was hired as dean of the college and director of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station in October 2018 and began his tenure in February 2019.
Prior to coming to Iowa State, Robison served as dean of West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and director of the West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station. Robison earned a bachelor's degree in forestry and master's degree in silviculture and forest influences from the State University of New York, Syracuse, and a doctorate in entomology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
“I am proud and grateful to be the holder of the Dean’s Endowed Chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,” said Robison. “The resources made possible by this extraordinary commitment to the college can make a tremendous difference, adding value to the work of our people and programs or giving a boost that moves a new idea or approach forward.”
Wintersteen was the inaugural holder of the endowed dean’s chair prior to becoming president of Iowa State. The dean’s chair was the first-of-its-kind at Iowa State when it was established in 2007, thanks to a $3 million gift from an anonymous alumnus. The university has five endowed dean positions.
Endowed dean’s chairs are prestigious endowments that enable administrators to leverage human and financial resources to intensify the impact of their unit and its programs. Because earnings from endowments are not intended for one specific project, program or person, they can be focused on urgent and developing priorities.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is one of the world’s leading institutions of agriculture, with more than 160 years of leadership in research, education and extension. It is among the best in the world for agricultural programs, ranking in the top 6 percent of 302 worldwide programs of agriculture and forestry programs by QS World University Rankings. U.S. News & World Report ranks ISU’s agricultural and biosystems engineering program No. 1 for graduate students and No. 3 for undergraduates. Offering more than 24 undergraduate majors and 35 graduate programs, the college has the third largest undergraduate student body among agricultural colleges in the nation and over 98 percent placement rate for graduates. Over the last decade, nine college professors have received national awards for excellence in teaching in food and agricultural sciences.
The Iowa State University Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization committed to securing and managing gifts that benefit Iowa State. The Forever True, For Iowa State campaign, with a historic goal to raise $1.5 billion, will help support Iowa State in becoming the premier land-grant university for the 21st century and beyond.