An administrator with an extensive background in applied and basic sciences, specifically food research and safety, has been appointed dean of West Virginia Universitys College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences and director of the WV Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

Cameron R. Hackney, currently head of the department of food science and technology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, will begin his new duties July 1.

He replaces Robert Dailey who has been serving as interim dean since Rosemary Haggett accepted a position in academic affairs last July.

Cameron Hackney had what we were looking for in a deana background in and appreciation for the various disciplines in the college; proven leadership skills; experience in grant and research funding; excellent communication and teaching qualities; and the knowledge that a strong interaction between the College and the Extension Service is important to the Universitys mission,said Provost Gerald Lang.Couple those qualities with being a native West Virginian and a WVU graduate and we think weve found the perfect leader to take this college into the new millennium.

Dr. Hackney has chaired the food science department within VPI s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since 1995. The previous 10 years he was a professor and Extension project leader in the department, and also oversaw the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Experiment Station in Hampton, Va.

He began his full-time teaching career at Louisiana State University in 1980, and also worked as a research assistant at NC State and a teaching assistant at WVU while completing his post graduate work.

As WVU dean he will report to the provost and oversee approximately 100 faculty and 135 staff, some 1,560 undergraduate and 225 graduate students in five academic divisionsanimal and veterinary sciences, family and consumer sciences, forestry, plant and soil sciences and resource management.

The Experiment Station supports the Colleges state and federally-funded research projects and grants, and administers 10 farms and forests.

I am thrilled to return to West Virginiamy home stateand lead the work of this important college,Hackney, a Kanawha County native, said.My administrative philosophy is to empower the faculty and staff, keep administrative hassles to a minimum and keep everyone well informed.

On teaching, he says the most important part of teaching is to respect and care about your students.

They will give 110 percent if they know the professor cares about their work and their life,he said.

Hackney received his undergraduate degree in animal science and a masters degree in agricultural microbiology from WVU ; his doctorate in food science is from North Carolina State University.

Active in professional societies, he serves as the chair of the Food Science Administrators Group, which consists of all heads of food sciences departments in the U.S. and Canada, and is past chair of the Carolina Virginia and Gulf Coast Institute of Food Technologists.

He has won numerous education and teaching awards at the state and national level, and has published broadly in refereed journals, conference and government reports and agricultural publications.

Larry Cote, associate provost for Extension and Public Service, chaired the national search.