KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dr. John B. Riley has been appointed dean of the University of Tennessee College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Dr. D.M. Gossett, UT vice president for agriculture, announced Thursday.
Riley comes to UT from Kansas State University, where he was assistant director of academic programs and a professor in the college of agriculture. His appointment at UT is effective Oct. 1.
A native of Staunton, Va., Riley is the first new dean of the college since 1967, when Dr. Glenn Hall accepted the post. Hall retired last spring.
“We are fortunate to have Dr. John Riley join us. He is very committed to assisting students in achieving their goals in college and follows their success as they begin their professional careers,” Gossett said.
“The college is now in its 126th year, and UT has built a tradition of providing generations of leadership to agriculture and the agribusiness industry in Tennessee and the nation. And as we approach the 21st century, the university will look to Dr. Riley for taking the college to even higher levels of accomplishments in this very important academic area.”
Riley earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. During his 21 years at Kansas State, he has coordinated student recruitment activities and student internship programs for the college of agriculture. He also served on the faculty and was assistant department head in the department of agricultural economics.
“I am excited about joining the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,” Riley said. “The University of Tennessee and its agriculture programs have an excellent reputation. I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, and students in our mutual efforts to build upon that reputation and to move program efforts effectively into the next century.”
Contact: Dr. D.M. Gossett (423-974-7342)