College Leadership
Glenda Gillaspy: Dean and Director
608.262.4930 – glenda.gillaspy@wisc.edu
Glenda Gillaspy became the 14th dean of UW-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in August 2022. Prior to that, Gillaspy was a professor of biochemistry at Virginia Tech where she served as department head since 2015. In that role she led novel curricular changes to promote student success and a sense of belonging, and implemented a mentoring program for new faculty that fostered their teaching and research success.
Gillaspy’s research focuses on signaling molecules that control phosphate-sensing in plants, with the goal of developing plants that can reclaim phosphate from the environment. She has been active in developing several outreach projects for high school students, and she has led a National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded Research Experiences and Extension summer research program for undergraduates, which is a collaboration between applied and basic scientists.
Gillaspy holds a B.S. in Biology from Auburn University, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University. She spent time at the University of California-Berkeley as a postdoctoral associate, and at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia in Portugal as a visiting researcher.
Executive Assistant: Tara Darga
For CALS associate deans, click the name below once to expand a selection, and again to collapse it.
Louis Macias
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
608.890.2154 – louis.macias@wisc.edu
Macias oversees the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within CALS, and provides collegewide leadership for activities related to diversity, equity and inclusion. These include but are not limited to developing and/or reviewing policies and practices that contribute to the recruitment, retention, and success of underrepresented students, staff, and faculty, enhancing inclusive teaching practices and supporting research excellence. He partners with institutional leaders, faculty, staff, students, and other constituency groups to ensure programming aligns with the college’s values and strategic goals.
Executive Assistant: Erica Flyte
Douglas Reinemann
Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach
608.262.9812 – doug.reinemann@wisc.edu
Reinemann provides leadership for the organization, content and effectiveness of extension and outreach programs related to agriculture and natural resources, and community and economic development. He works closely with UW-Extension and CALS leadership, county extension agents and nearly 100 CALS faculty and staff who hold extension appointments to ensure that the college’s extension and outreach activities are timely and integral.
Executive Assistant: Erica Flyte
Mark Rickenbach
Senior Associate Dean & Interim Associate Dean for Research
608.890.0225 – mark.rickenbach@wisc.edu
As senior associate dean, Rickenbach is responsible for working with the dean on policy issues, long-range strategic planning, and implementation of change. He is the primary point of contact for departments and UW-administrative units on faculty affairs and leads diversity and inclusion efforts related to recruitment and retention. He provides oversight for facilities, planning, health and safety, international programs, and manages the college’s administrative team.
As interim associate dean for research, Rickenbach is responsible for the administration, management and supervision of the college’s research enterprise. He oversees matters pertaining to compliance and assurance with funding agencies, animal care and use, biosafety, intellectual property and the responsible conduct of research within CALS.
Executive Assistant: Katie Datka
Angie Seitler
Associate Dean for Finance and Administration
608.261.1432 – angela.seitler@wisc.edu
Seitler oversees the daily operations of CALS Business Services, CALS Human Resources, CALS IT, and the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station. She is in charge of all aspects of college budgeting, financial planning, human resources, data management, and information technology. She also manages the start up and budgeting of revenue generating accounts, as well as trust Fund and UW Foundation expenditures and balances.
Executive Assistant: Muhamed Sadiku
Karen Wassarman
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
608.262.3003 – karen.wassarman@wisc.edu
Wassarman oversees the undergraduate student services in CALS, including curriculum assessment, international programs, career services and internships, scholarships and financial aid. She manages the Office of Academic Affairs and the Farm and Industry Short Course program.
Executive Assistant: Muhamed Sadiku
Heidi Zoerb
Associate Dean for External Relations and Advancement
608.262.4849 – heidi.zoerb@wisc.edu
Zoerb oversees CALS’ external relations efforts, leads the CALS External Relations team, works with the UW Foundation to advance the college’s development priorities, and advises the dean on matters related to the college’s public image and stakeholder relations.
Executive Assistant: Erica Flyte
For CALS department chairs, click the name below once to expand a selection, and again to collapse it.
Guanming Shi
Department Chair for Agricultural & Applied Economics
608.263.6250 – gshi@wisc.edu
Chris Kucharik
Department Chair for Agronomy
608.890.3021 – kucharik@wisc.edu
Kent Weigel
Department Chair for Animal & Dairy Sciences
608.263.4321 – kweigel@wisc.edu
Katrina Forest
Department Chair for Bacteriology
608.265.3566 – forest@bact.wisc.edu
Brian Fox
Department Chair for Biochemistry
608.262.9708 – bgfox@wisc.edu
Troye Runge
Department Chair for Biological Systems Engineering
608.890.3143 – trunge@wisc.edu
Mike Bell
Department Chair for Community & Environmental Sociology
608.265.9930 – michaelbell@wisc.edu
Russell Groves
Department Chair for Entomology
608.262.3229 – groves@entomology.wisc.edu
Scott Rankin
Department Chair for Food Science
608.263.2008 – sarankin@wisc.edu
Eric Kruger
Department Chair for Forest and Wildlife Ecology
608.262.4754 – elkruger@wisc.edu
Francisco Pelegri
Department Chair for Genetics
608.263.6699 – fjpelegri@wisc.edu
Patrick Krysan
Department Chair for Horticulture
608.262.1624 – pjkrysan@wisc.edu
Dominique Brossard
Department Chair for Life Sciences Communication
608.263.3073 – dbrossard@wisc.edu
David Eide
Department Chair for Nutritional Sciences
608.263.1613– eide@nutrisci.wisc.edu
Amanda Gevens
Department Chair of Plant Pathology
608.890.3072 – gevens@wisc.edu
Alfred Hartemink
Department Chair of Soil Science
608.263.5691 – alfred.hartemink@wisc.edu