Wintersteen named interim agriculture dean at Iowa State

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University Provost Benjamin Allen has appointed Wendy Wintersteen as interim dean of the College of Agriculture, effective Aug. 1. Wintersteen also will become interim director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station.

Wintersteen, senior associate dean of the college, succeeds Catherine Woteki, who has been dean of the college since January 2002. Woteki will become global director of scientific affairs for Mars Inc., McLean, Va., beginning Aug. 1.

"Dr. Wintersteen has been responsible for budget planning for the College of Agriculture and the agriculture experiment station. In addition, she has extensive experience working with state and national agricultural organizations. We're very pleased that she has agreed to lead the college at this time," Allen said.

Prior to joining the dean's office, Wintersteen served as director of agriculture and natural resources extension, 1995-2000. She became a faculty member in entomology at Iowa State in 1988 and was promoted to full professor in 1996.

Wintersteen's extension and research focus is on the development and assessment of pest management. She is the author of nearly 60 extension publications and has made hundreds of extension presentations on pest management.

She earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Kansas State University in 1978 and doctorate in entomology from Iowa State University in 1988.

Allen said he will soon appoint a committee to conduct the search for a new permanent dean. Wintersteen will serve in the interim role until a new dean is selected.