Agriculture dean candidate Catherine O’Connor Woteki expressed a distinct vision for the College of Agriculture during her open forum Wednesday afternoon in Kildee Hall.

Woteki, senior research scientist at the University of Maryland and professor of nutrition and food safety at the University of Nebraska, said she has four main parts in her goal for the College of Agriculture.

“I want us to be recognized worldwide as a leader in learning, discovery and engagement,” said Woteki, the final of three candidates to visit campus. “I believe this college already has that reputation, but it can be further developed.”

Next, Woteki said she would like the college to be a player in terms of the degree it is involved in major issues.

“I want us to be a major contributor of solutions to problems facing Iowa, the region, the nation and the world,” she said.

In terms of the level of education for students, Woteki said she wants the best.

“I want our students to be sought out by businesses, academia and government,” she said. “That is the best indicator of the quality of undergraduate education.”

Excellence is the third component of her vision, she said.

“I want this college to be a place of rigorous inquiry striving for excellence,” she said in terms of both in the classroom and research.

The final element Woteki shared as part of her vision for the College of Agriculture was happiness.

“It needs to be a place where students, faculty and staff want to be,” she said.

Woteki said she would see her role as dean is to sharpen the current focus of the college, get the resources to fulfill the goals and communicate.

“The first thing I would do as dean is spend a very good part of my first three to four months going out and meeting people,” she said. “I would visit the facilities, extension offices and departments within the college to get a sense of people’s views, good and bad.”

Nick McKenna, junior in horticulture, said he attended the forum to see what Woteki was like.

“I was interested to see how she viewed her role as the potential dean and how it related to me,” he said.

McKenna said finding the right person for the position is essential because of the effect the dean has on the college.

“Whoever it is will have a great amount of influence and control as to what direction the College of Agriculture takes,” he said.