Steven Neal has been named assistant dean, academic affairs, for CFAES effective Oct. 1. He replaces Jill Pfister, who retired Sept. 30.
Neal has served as the associate director of academic affairs for the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, the college's two-year program based in Wooster, since 2003, where he supervised master scheduling, registration, financial aid and academic discipline. He was responsible for implementation of the new curriculum as the university transitioned to the semester system.
His background positions him well to establish even closer connections between CFAES's four-year and two-year programs.
This background positions him well to establish even closer connections between the CFAES four-year and two-year programs and to grow the pipeline of students from ATI to the college's Columbus campus. Neal also brings experience in partnering with STEM high schools and two-year programs.
He is the principle investigator for several major grants, including:
- One from the National Science Foundation ($762,416) and one from U.S. Department of Agriculture ($281,509), both related to bioenergy education and workforce development.
- Another grant from the U.S. Department of Education, worth $1.55 million, provides additional support for first-generation college students, students who are low income and students with disabilities.
He received his B.S. in animal science in 1982 and his M.S. in animal science, quantitative genetics, in 1984, both from CFAES. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1987, also in animal science, quantitative genetics.
-- Suzanne Steel, Communications