Travis Vail/Roundup
Pierce College is creating a new faculty position, Associate Dean of Agriculture, to oversee the operations of the campus’ 200 acres of farmland.
Interim President Joy McCaslin made this announcement during a Pierce Academic Senate meeting that took place today in the Campus Center Conference Room.
The agricultural department is currently supervised by Carol Kozeracki, the Dean of Research, Planning, and Assessment.
“It’s a very demanding task,” said Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, vice president of academic affairs. “It’s not realistic to assign [management of the agricultural department] as a partial task.”
The Associate Dean of Agriculture will act as a hands-on manager, and will be responsible for keeping the farm and its facilities in top condition.
“We need the new dean to interact with the outside community so that we may make sure that all of our programs are relative to local industry and transfer programs,” Abu-Ghazaleh said.
The new hire will be financed by an industry collaborative grant, SB 70, which was created by the Chancellor’s Office of California Community Colleges.
“We’re waiting for the grant to be finalized, and then we will be able to begin the hiring process,” said Abu-Ghazaleh.
Interim President Joy McCaslin is optimistic about the potential utilization of the farm on campus.
“[The farm] is an incredible resource,” McCaslin said. “It’s one of the things that makes Pierce look so special in the eyes of the community.”