Wynne named CALS dean

Dr. Johnny C. Wynne of Apex will be the 11th dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. His appointment is effective Dec 1.

Dr. Johnny C. Wynne

Provost and Chancellor-Designate James L. Oblinger announced the selection of Wynne for the post, following approval by the NC State Board of Trustees Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee.

Wynne has served as interim dean since May 2003, when Oblinger was promoted from dean to provost.

“The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has distinguished itself among the nation’s best. Dean Wynne’s leadership and management experience will help propel the college to even greater levels of interdisciplinary achievement,” Oblinger said in announcing Wynne's appointment. “His personal and professional background, knowledge of the state, and proven record as director of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service during a time of increasing budgetary challenges make him the ideal person to lead the college.”

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is one of NC State's largest academic units, with about 4,500 students in two-year, four-year and graduate programs. It is also the headquarters for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, which conduct research and outreach activities that have statewide impact on the economy and quality of life.

“Given a world-class faculty, a dedicated staff and bright students, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is well-positioned to continue a proud tradition of teaching, research and extension in service to North Carolina,” Wynne said. “We have made great strides in developing value-added crops, products and enterprises to sustain our state’s leading industry, which is agriculture and agribusiness.

“At the same time, we have established ourselves as leaders in emerging life sciences – including genomic sciences – that are the key to improving the health of plants, animals and people, and to ensuring a better environment,” he said. “It’s an exciting time for our college. I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve our university in this role.”

Wynne has worked in the college since 1965, when he became a graduate research assistant. He joined the faculty in 1968 as a crop science instructor, progressing through the academic ranks to full professor in 1983. In 1989, he became head of the Department of Crop Science, then was named associate dean and director of the research service in 1992.

As associate dean, Wynne guided research efforts spanning the agricultural, environmental and life sciences. NCARS scientists conduct basic and applied research in university laboratories, at five field laboratories in the Raleigh area and 18 research stations across North Carolina. Under Wynne’s leadership, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has taken significant steps in the emerging areas of advanced biological sciences such as genomics, proteomics and metabolomics. This focus on emerging sciences complements the research service’s traditional emphasis on ensuring agricultural sustainability in North Carolina and beyond.

Wynne, a native of the Bear Grass community in Martin County, received a bachelor's degree in crop science from NC State in 1965, a master’s in 1968 and a Ph.D. in 1974.

Posted November 30, 2004

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