Randy Woodson, interim dean of Purdue Agriculture and director of the Office of Agricultural Research Programs, has been named dean.

The appointment, which is effective immediately, was ratified today by the university's board of trustees. In a separate action, the board also voted to change the name of the School of Agriculture to the College of Agriculture.

"Agriculture at Purdue has a history rich in excellence, and Randy Woodson will enhance this tradition," said Provost Sally Mason. "His scholarly depth and credentials as a leading scientist will keep Purdue at the forefront as one of the top agriculture programs in the nation."

Woodson will be responsible for administering academic programs in the College of Agriculture, agriculture research programs that include Purdue agricultural centers across Indiana and the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service.

Woodson joined the Purdue faculty in 1985 and has overseen Purdue's agricultural research programs since 1998, including initiatives in biotechnology and genomics. He previously was head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. Woodson was appointed interim dean of agriculture in June and succeeds Victor Lechtenberg, who was named Purdue's vice provost for engagement.

"Purdue Agriculture is moving in a positive direction with clear strategic goals," Woodson said. "Our educational and research programs address the diversity of the food, agriculture and natural resource system. Our faculty, staff and students are working to find innovative solutions to some of our state's most challenging questions and are helping to grow our state's economy - specifically in rural areas."

Under Woodson's leadership, agricultural research funding from external sources increased each year, from $25 million in 1998 to more than $40 million in 2004. Woodson said external funding for research will continue to be a key objective, as will securing funding sources to build new and improve existing research and educational facilities.

Woodson's service to the state includes serving on the boards of directors of the Indiana Crop Improvement Association, the Ag Alumni Seed Improvement Association and BioCrossroads; he is director of the Indiana Wine-Grape Council and a member of the Governor's Task Force on Tobacco Producers and Rural Community Impact Fund. He formerly was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Counter-Terrorism and Biosecurity and the Agriculture and Rural Development Task Force of the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Institute.

A native of Arkansas, Woodson received a bachelor's degree in horticulture from the University of Arkansas, and a master's degree in horticulture and doctorate in horticulture/plant physiology from Cornell University. Prior to coming to Purdue, he was an assistant professor of horticulture at Louisiana State University.

The agriculture program is one of Purdue's oldest, dating back to 1874. The School of Agriculture includes 11 academic departments with 45 majors encompassing the agriculture, food and natural resource systems. There are more than 2,300 undergraduates, 545 graduate students and 289 tenured/tenure-track faculty in the school.

The Purdue Cooperative Extension Service also is part of Purdue Agriculture. Purdue Extension serves the needs of Indiana businesses, communities and families with educators based in all of the state's 92 counties. The school also administers agriculture regulatory functions for the state, which are assigned to Purdue by the Indiana General Assembly.