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Cochran reappointed as CFAES Associate Dean for Operations

We are pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Graham Cochran as Associate Dean for Operations in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) for a second four-year term, beginning January 1, 2022. Dr. Cochran earned his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in Extension Education, his M.S. in Zoology from Miami University, and his B.S. in Biology from Marietta College.   

As Associate Dean for Operations, Dr. Cochran serves in a college-wide role providing leadership for operations across the Columbus, CFAES Wooster, and statewide campuses. Dr. Cochran leads agricultural and animal operations at farms, research stations, and field labs; information and educational technology; facilities and capital planning; safety; and CFAES Wooster facilities operations. Dr. Cochran also works with the Dean and Senior Associate Dean to facilitate strategic alignment and risk management efforts with the college leadership team.

During his first term, five goals guided Dr. Cochran’s work - effective, efficient operations of facilities, farms, and research stations; strategic planning, facilities planning, and alignment; IT strategy and transformation; improving the infrastructure across all our campus locations; and safety strategy and operational support. Highlights of this work included streamlining Agricultural Operations; integrating our Wooster Facilities and Animal Operations teams with our entire CFAES Operations team; completing the CFAES Physical Master Plan, and a comprehensive CFAES strategic alignment process with engagement from stakeholders. Completing the CFAES IT Transformation project, in partnership with the OCIO, resulting in reduced risk, predictable spending, and expanded support. Since 2017, facilities projects totaling $79 million have been completed to transform our physical environment, and currently, 20 active capital projects totaling more than $71 million are underway across all three campuses.

During his next term, Dr. Cochran will continue to focus on effective and efficient operational support across all our campuses with a concentration on working with our CFAES team on the execution of plans for our Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, and strategic plans for farms, research stations, and field labs driven by programmatic priorities.