Associate Dean for Extension and Associate Administrator for Extension
Dr. Nelson Escobar has been appointed Associate Dean for Extension and Associate Administrator for Extension. Dr. Escobar has been serving on an interim basis and was selected following a national search. Dr. Escobar will be responsible for providing leadership to the UMES Extension program with direct responsibilities in planning, implementing and carrying out the extension and outreach mission as well as coordinating with the University of Maryland Extension partners from the University of Maryland College Park. Dr. Escobar will work collaboratively with the UMES Agricultural Experiment Station as well as other relevant programs within and outside UMES.
Associate Dean for Research, Development and Graduate Education
Dr. Paulinus Chigbu has been appointed the new Associate Dean for Research, Development and Graduate Education. This critical, strategic position will focus on providing bold support for the growth and development of SANS research, and the graduate and undergraduate education enterprise, especially by garnering resources to support student enrollment, graduate education and other student experiential programs in SANS. In this capacity, Dr. Chigbu will support the development of multidisciplinary research initiatives especially in the areas of natural resources, biomedical research, natural sciences and workforce development. He will also provide mentorship and support for faculty in the area of grantsmanship. Dr. Chigbu will work closely with the chairs and dean in carrying out the overall mission of the school through implementation of the university’s strategic goals and objectives related to research and graduate education. Dr. Chigbu will maintain his current responsibility as the director of the Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center.
Associate Dean for 1890 Research Programs and Associate Director of UMES Agricultural Experiment Station
Dr. Jurgen Schwarz has been appointed Associate Dean for 1890 Research Programs and Associate Director of the UMES Agricultural Experiment Station. With the reorganization of the UMES-AES as a separate unit, this critical position will provide leadership and management of the Experiment Station as well as activities funded with capacity funds. Such activities include Evans-Allen Research, McIntire Stennis Cooperative Forestry Programs and research funded through other extra-mural funds from USDA-NIFA and other agencies. Dr. Schwarz will also provide mentorship and support for faculty and graduate students associated with the AES. In this position, he will work closely with UMES Extension as well as the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station (UMD) and University of Maryland Extension. Dr. Schwarz will maintain his current responsibilities as the Chair of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences.
