Marc Johnson, executive vice president and provost of the University announced today that Ron Pardini has accepted the position of interim dean of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) and interim director of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station.

“Dr. Pardini has worked diligently to bring the college together around a new future. He has built a sense of cohesion among the college faculty and staff and among stakeholders which will be important in the near future as the college and NAES do essential planning and program implementation,” Johnson said. “I look forward to working closely with Dean Pardini, and the college, as program adjustments unfold over this academic year.”

“I’m looking forward to continuing our efforts to reorganize and move forward in these interesting times,” Pardini said. “We’re entering a new era and, will have to be creative in how we deliver our programs to our stakeholders and students.”

Pardini said the college faces challenges as they look to a new future and will include stakeholders in discussions. Pardini has initiated a strategic planning process to guide CABNR’s transformation to three departments.

“Our objective is to create a vision for the future that allows CABNR to address short-term issues while keeping focused on the long-term goal of becoming a valued resource to our constituents,” he said.

Following budget reductions throughout the entire Nevada System of Higher Education, CABNR now consists of three academic departments: the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences; and Food, Agriculture and Nutrition. The Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, the pre-veterinary program and the rangeland management programs are also continuing under the direction of CABNR.

Pardini, who has been acting dean since December 2008, will continue as interim dean until a search is conducted and a dean has been placed, which is expected to be sometime mid-2012.