By:
Tom Nordlie (352) 392-0400Source(s):
Kirby Barrick kbarrick@ufl.edu, 352-392-1961
Elaine Turner returner@ufl.edu, 352-392-2251
Mark Rieger mrieger@ufl.edu, 706-542-0783
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It was a homecoming of sorts when the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences named two new associate deans – one holds the interim associate dean position, the other earned a doctorate at UF.
Selected were Elaine Turner, interim associate dean and an associate professor of food science and human nutrition, and Mark Rieger, a professor of horticulture with the University of Georgia. The appointments were announced June 30 by Kirby Barrick, dean of the college. Rieger will also serve as a horticultural sciences professor.
“We’re bringing in exceptional leadership,” Barrick said. “I’m looking forward to having the entire CALS administration team together.”
Turner’s appointment was effective immediately. Rieger’s appointment will become effective in September. Three program assistants will work with the associate deans.
Though their responsibilities will overlap somewhat, each associate dean has specific assignments, Barrick said. Turner will provide primary leadership for undergraduate education and teaching enhancement programs. Rieger will provide primary leadership for graduate education, distance-education programs and the upper-division undergraduate honors programs.
The addition of a second associate dean will greatly benefit the college, Turner said.
“Even though each of us has our own focus, we’ll function as a team,” she said. “So we want to get out to the departments, talk to the faculty to learn what their needs and concerns are, then go back and try to address those things at an administrative level.”
A member of the UF faculty since 1996, Turner taught at Clemson University from 1986-1996. She earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Kansas State University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in nutrition from Purdue University.
Rieger has been with UGA’s horticulture department since 1987, where his research focused on environmental stress physiology of fruit crops. He has earned three horticultural science degrees – a bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University in 1982, a master’s degree from the University of Georgia in 1984 and a doctoral degree from UF in 1987.
“I’m delighted to be coming back to Gainesville after 20 years,” said Rieger. “I’ve been preparing for a career in college administration and this is the best opportunity to come along.”
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