The year 2007 has brought some changes to our College. Our former Dean, Cleve Willis, has retired after 35 years of extraordinary service to the campus. Having worked closely with Dean Willis for the past five years as Associate Dean, I'm excited to continue building and strengthening the College in my new role as Dean.

The College has also had some changes in our departments. After successfully completing the campaign to endow the Stockbridge School Directorship, we've begun a national search for a new Director. Our Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Martha Baker, is acting as interim Director of the Stockbridge School. We are simultaneously conducting an in-house search for my replacement, the Associate Dean of Research and Outreach.

Three of our departments have new department heads:

Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning — Dr. Elizabeth Brabec
Dr. Brabec joins the College from Utah State University, where she was Professor and Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning.

Microbiology — Dr. John Lopes
Dr. Lopes joins the College from Wayne State University, where he was Professor and Associate Chair of Biological Sciences.

Natural Resources Conservation — Dr. Paul Fisette
Dr. Fisette has lead the College's Building Materials and Wood Technology program for the last 19 years, and has built the program from 21 to 115 students.

Former department heads Jack Ahern, Steve Sandler, and Matt Kelty are all continuing their teaching and research endeavors in their respective departments.

Having been a member of the faculty in the Department of Microbiology since 1986, I have seen how our research and teaching has lasting impacts in areas that affect our health, our quality of life, our economic policies and practices, and how our planet's resources are developed, allocated, and managed.

As Dean, I plan to continue building on the College's strengths and to ensure that Natural Resources and the Environment continues to be a vitally important part of UMass Amherst.

Dean, College of Natural Resources and the Environment
UMass Amherst