Catherine O’Connor Woteki has been named dean of the College of Agriculture – the first woman in the university’s history to hold the post.

Woteki is senior research scientist with the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland and professor of nutrition and food safety at the University of Nebraska.

Woteki will replace current Interim Dean Richard Ross in January. Ross has been in office since July 2000.

With a background in federal government, Woteki was undersecretary for food safety for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She also was deputy undersecretary for research, education and economics for the USDA and was deputy associate director for science in the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, according to the university Web site, www.iastate.edu.

ISU Provost Rollin Richmond said Woteki’s expertise in food science and human nutrition will be valuable as the future of Iowa agriculture changes in that direction.

– Valerie Dennis