 |
|
|
|||||
|
|
May 2 , 2005 Coston named NDSU vice president North Dakota State University President Joseph A. Chapman announced today that D.C. Coston has been named the university’s vice president for agriculture and university Extension. Coston is scheduled to begin his new duties July 1. “I am very impressed with Dr. Coston’s national leadership in agriculture,” Chapman said. “He has a commitment to the land-grant ideal and mission. He believes in engaging with the public, and understands NDSU’s role of providing quality educational opportunities and programs in an evolving society.” Coston comes to NDSU from Oklahoma State University, where he served as the associate director and chief operating officer of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station and the interim associate director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. At the Experiment Station, he provided leadership for 180 faculty members, 260 support personnel, 220 graduate students and 400 undergraduate students who participated in the station’s programs. The main station is at Stillwater, with 17 other locations throughout the state. A professor of horticulture, Coston previously served at Clemson University, where he was associate dean and associate director of the South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. His career also included being a faculty member and Extension specialist at Virginia Tech. “We were particularly pleased with the strength of our finalists,” said George Wallman, NDSU vice president for student affairs and co-chair of the search committee, noting the other finalists were Duane Hauck, director of the NDSU Extension Service, and Neal Fisher, administrator of the North Dakota Wheat Commission. “D.C. Coston will bring to NDSU an impressive array of experiences in both Extension and Experiment Station work. He is very connected at the national level.” “President Chapman had a difficult choice to make because all three finalists were very strong in various areas,” said Tom Archbold, State Board of Agricultural Research and Education member and search committee co-chair. “Dr. Coston’s experiences are well-rounded in university matters, university function and university relations. I think that is a strong attribute he has.” In his new position, Coston will provide leadership and vision for agricultural research and university Extension programs. He will report to Chapman and serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet. Among Coston’s duties are to develop and implement biennial budgets, working closely with directors of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, NDSU Extension Service, Northern Crops Institute and the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. He also will interact with citizens, local officials, and county, state and federal agencies to identify and address critical needs of agricultural research and Extension programs. Coston earned his bachelor’s degree at North Carolina State University and his master’s degree and doctorate in horticulture at Michigan State University. He also has received training through the Higher Education Management Development Program at Harvard University, the W.E. Deming Quality Leadership Program and Milliken Corporation Quality Leadership Program. His vita lists 30 recent presentations, and notes that he is principal or co-investigator on projects that have brought in more than $2 million in extramural support. Coston’s professional and honorary affiliations include the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Gamma Sigma Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Zeta, Blue Key, Golden Key, American Society for Horticultural Science and the International Society for Horticultural Science. ### Editor: Steve Bergeson, (701) 231-6101, steven.bergeson@ndsu.edu |
Market Advisor: |
|
North Dakota State University |
