Kimberlee Kidwell is the new dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, the University announced Friday.

She will also be the inaugural Robert A. Easter Chair for the college. A position announced in September 2015 named for the former University president who served until June 2015.

Kidwell is an alumna of the University; she received two bachelor degrees, one in agricultural science and the other in genetics and development. She is also an alumna of the University of Wisconsin–Madison where she received master’s and doctorate degrees in plant breeding and plant genetics. She is well known as a scientist in this area.

Currently working at Washington State University as the executive associate dean of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, Kidwell has served on the faculty since 1994.

Kidwell will begin November 1 following the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Current ACES Dean Robert Hauser has filled the role since 2010 and one year previously as the interim dean. Hauser joined the faculty in 1982 and had taught undergraduate and graduate courses as well as worked as the head of the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics from 1995 to 2001 and 2004 to 2009.