27 Nov New dean to lead NDSU College of Science and Mathematics
Kimberly Wallin, former associate dean of research and graduate programs at the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, has been selected as the new dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.
Wallin is expected to begin her new duties at NDSU on or about March 31. She succeeds Scott Wood, who is returning to a faculty position in the Department of Geosciences.
“We are very fortunate that Dr. Wallin has decided to join NDSU,” said Interim Provost Ken Grafton. “In addition to her exceptional credentials as a scholar and researcher, our campus community was impressed with her clear vision for the college, her extensive experience with land-grant institutions, and her creative ideas for supporting faculty research, student learning and increasing collaborations across the university.”
The search committee recommended Wallin after an extensive search. Four finalists from across the country met with the search committee, faculty and other campus constituencies.
“The response to Dr. Wallin’s open forum and interviews was overwhelmingly positive,” said Margaret Fitzgerald, dean of the College of Human Sciences and Education, who served as chair of the search committee.
Her research associate professor position is shared with the University of Vermont and with the USDA Forest Service’s Northern Research Station. She also is a research associate at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and an affiliate faculty member for Oregon State University’s Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society.
Wallin joined the University of Vermont in 2007, and previously was on the faculty at Oregon State University.
“My background includes a combination of education, research, outreach, administrative, and leadership experiences in higher education,” Wallin wrote in her application letter, noting she supports service learning and undergraduate research. “I am committed to excellence in teaching that is designed to prepare students to become global citizen leaders in the STEM fields, as well as being critical thinkers.”
Her application letter continued, “I am very excited and invigorated by NDSU’s intentional goal of strategic growth. I’ve learned from my leadership experiences that I find energy in supporting, motivating and investing in others. I am invigorated by this opportunity because it exists at a land-grant university that has a strong commitment and record of success in creating a learning community that is reflective of our complex and interconnected world.”
Wallin earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and her master’s degree and doctorate in entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a post-doctoral research associate at Northern Arizona University’s Department of Forestry.
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