Mark Rickenbach will become the interim associate vice chancellor for research policy and integrity in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education (VCRGE). He begins that role later this summer.

“CALS is grateful for Professor Rickenbach’s service to the college,” says Dean Glenda Gillaspy. “At a time when the college needed him most, he served in two concurrent and distinct leadership roles to help keep the college, and its faculty, on-track during difficult times.”

Rickenbach, a faculty member in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, assumed the senior associate dean role in 2019. As senior associate dean, he assisted the dean in matters pertaining to leadership and management of the college taking the lead on faculty affairs, including hiring, promotion, tenure and post-tenure activities, compensation and retention; as well as overseeing CALS Global and facilities, health and safety. Following Bill Barker’s retirement in summer 2021 as then-associate dean for research, Rickenbach took on research responsibilities on an interim basis, including oversight of the Research Division and the Agricultural Research Station system and managing relationships with campus and external research partners.

Rickenbach will overlap in this VCRGE role with Brian Fox to allow for a smooth transition. Fox, who currently serves as the associate vice chancellor for research policy and integrity and the chair of the Department of Biochemistry, will be leaving this VCRGE role during the upcoming academic year and continue in his chair and faculty roles. The associate vice chancellor for research policy and integrity provides leadership in setting and executing institutional research integrity priorities and seeks to maintain and enhance research excellence. Rickenbach will also work with associate deans for research, associate vice chancellors, and others across campus to foster coordination across the research enterprise.

“Over the last four years, I have come to appreciate the breadth of the CALS mission and its impact in ways large and small from on-campus to around the globe, says Rickenbach. “Most striking has been the dedication of faculty, staff, and students to pursue excellence. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and look forward to continued work with the CALS community in my new role.”

Irwin Goldman; professor in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem sciences and a former associate dean, interim dean and department chair; has accepted the interim appointment of senior associate dean for faculty affairs.

“As a senior faculty member, Irwin brings terrific experience and a strong record of service to this role,” says Gillaspy. “I am grateful to him for accepting this position, which will allow the college to leverage his excellent judgment and provide time to conduct a national search for a new administrative leader.”

Goldman begins on Aug.1, 2023. His office will be in Agricultural Hall.