New CFAES dean begins whirlwind first week May 1

Dean Cathann Kress

Good luck and well wishes to Cathann Kress, who officially takes over May 1 as dean and vice president for agricultural administration for The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

She begins on a particularly busy week, meeting with staff, alumni and stakeholders. The week will culminate with her handing out diplomas during Spring Commencement on both the Columbus and Wooster campuses. 

Earlier this month, Kress met with local news media, telling reporters she was "thrilled to be joining a great community of people and scholars. The college has a tremendous opportunity to lead in the grand challenges of the day."

Among those grand challenges, Kress said, is food security. Because of the breadth and depth found at Ohio State, "We are uniquely positioned to address the entire food supply chain with a multi-disciplinary approach," she said.

Another key issue is future leadership in agriculture and making sure people understand the full range of careers that are possible with degrees from CFAES, Kress said.

Improving communications with consumers and providing a better understanding of the science behind agriculture is another important issue, she told reporters.

Before joining Ohio State as dean, Kress was vice president for extension and outreach and director of cooperative extension at Iowa State University.