Office of the Dean and Director
Kathryn VandenBosch
Dean and Director
(608) 262-4930 - kvandenbosch@cals.wisc.edu
Kathryn VandenBosch became dean of the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in March 2012. Until then VandenBosch was a professor of plant biology at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. She had headed the plant biology department there since 2001, with a brief hiatus in 2006 to serve as interim dean of the newly formed College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. She also served as a member and former chair of the executive committees of both the Faculty Senate and the University Senate.
VandenBosch's research has focused on the genetics of plant-microbe interactions and nitrogen fixation in legumes, a family that includes several agriculturally important species. In 2009 VandenBosch was named a fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists.
Prior to her tenure at the University of Minnesota, VandenBosch was a faculty member at Texas A&M University for 12 years. She holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in botany from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and spent time at both UW-Madison and the John Innes Institute in Great Britain as a postdoctoral associate.
Associate Deans and Staff
Birl Lowery
Senior Associate Dean
(608) 262-9812 - blowery@wisc.edu
As senior associate dean, Lowery is responsible for management of the CALS faculty, including hiring, promotion, tenure and post-tenure activities. He is the primary point of contact for departments and UW-Madison administrative units on faculty issues and manages the college's administrative team.
Rick Lindroth
Associate Dean for Research
(608) 262-6792 - lindroth@wisc.edu
Lindroth is responsible for the administration, management and supervision of the college's research enterprise. He oversees matters pertaining to compliance and assurance with funding agencies, animal care and use, biosafety, intellectual property and the responsible conduct of research within CALS.
Sarah Pfatteicher
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (interim)
- spfatt@cals.wisc.edu
Pfatteicher oversees the undergraduate student services in CALS, including curriculum assessment, international programs, career services and internships, scholarships and financial aid. She manages the Office of Undergraduate Programs and Services and the Farm and Industry Short Course program.
John Shutske
Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach
(608) 514-2504 - jshutske@cals.wisc.edu
Shutske provides leadership for the organization, content and effectiveness of extension programs related to agriculture and natural resources. He works closely with UW-Extension and CALS leadership, county extension agents and the more than 100 CALS faculty who hold extension appointments to ensure that the college's extension and outreach activities are timely and integral to Wisconsin.
Doug Sabatke
Assistant Dean for Facilities, Planning, Health and Safety
(608) 262-9812 - dsabatke@cals.wisc.edu
Sabatke is responsible for planning and development of CALS facilities, space management and oversight of construction projects on the CALS campus and agricultural research stations. He serves as the college's lead health and safety officer and leads the development of emergency planning procedures for college units.
Heidi Zoerb
Assistant Dean for External Relations and Advancement
(608) 262-4849 - hezoerb@wisc.edu
Zoerb oversees CALS' external relations efforts, leads the CALS communications team, works with the UW Foundation to advance the college’s development priorities, and advises the dean on matters related to the college’s public image and stakeholder relations.
Dean's Office Staff
Janis Simons
(608) 262-4930 - jsimons@cals.wisc.edu
As administrative assistant to the dean, Simons is responsible for managing the dean's calendar and appointments. She is the first contact for scheduling meetings with the dean or inquiring about the dean's availability to attend events or meetings.
Julie Scharm
(608) 262-9812 - jscharm@cals.wisc.edu
Scharm provides program work for the associate and assistant deans on matters related to faculty personnel, extension and facilities management. She also provides support for several college committees, including department chairs meetings, the Committee on Academic Staff Issues and the Facilities Committee.
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