Dr. Carol Lorenzen to lead Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences at OSU

The College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University is pleased to announce that after an extensive national search, Dr. Carol Lorenzen has been selected as the new head of the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences effective July 1, 2020.

A professor in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri, and an International Marketing Specialist in the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS), Lorenzen brings extensive experience in teaching, research, and outreach to the role. She is also a recognized national leader with the USDA, American Meat Science Association, and the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, among other renowned organizations.

“We are excited to have Dr. Lorenzen join our College and take the reins of an important department,” said Dean Alan Sams. “Her expertise is well-regarded by academics and industry leaders alike and we are looking forward to bringing her talent, collaboration, and innovation to the team.”

With a B.S. in Animal Science from Washington State University and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, Lorenzen has been responsible for securing more than $3 million in research funding, planning and managing extensive research projects, advising students, and holding several leadership roles within her profession. A well-respected researcher with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, she’s also received a number of significant national awards, including the American Society of Animal Science (ASA) Meats Research Award and the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Achievement Award.

“In my academic career, I’ve cultivated skills as a convener of different people and ideas,” Lorenzen said. “The opportunity to find more ways to bring different disciplines and experts together to tackle complex challenges is inspiring. And there are few places where that opportunity is more prevalent than in Oregon where the agriculture and natural resources environment is one of the most densely diverse in the nation.”

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Lorenzen grew up raising and showing sheep with 4-H in Redmond, Washington. Continuing those ties, she has served as a livestock judge for both state and county fairs over the years. Her experience in the region also give Lorenzen an appreciation for the distinct qualities of the eastern and western parts of Oregon.

“Because the College is present throughout the state, in all 36 counties, the opportunity to bring those different ideas to the table is real and exciting.”

The College is also grateful for the dedicated service of Dr. Ricardo Mata-González who has served as the Interim Department Head for the past two years.

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