The new dean has been named for the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University. Oregon State University professor John Killefer was selected to replace Barry Dunn, who became university president this past May. Killefer has served as department head of animal and range sciences at Oregon since 2012 and brings a host of experience and enthusiasm to the job.

Beyond that his vision is to help students, faculty and staff excel in the future through collaboration and partnering.

As a professor, Killefer specialized in the swine area and conducted research on the class of feed additives known as beta agonists.

Killefer oversaw a merging of the animal sciences and rangeland departments with ecology and management. He also helped establish nearly $3.5 million in endowments to support teaching and research. He starts his job in March 2018.

Dr. Daniel Scholl has been leading the department in the interim.