Randy Woodson keeps Purdue Ag on track

As metaphors go, it’s not difficult to imagine Purdue Agriculture as a big train. After all, one of the university’s mascots, the Boilermaker Special, is a train engine.

So when Randy Woodson, interim dean of Purdue Agriculture, refers to Purdue Agriculture as a train rolling into the future, it’s easy to get on board.

Woodson was appointed to replace Vic Lechtenberg on July 1 after Lechtenberg became Purdue’s vice provost for engagement.

“My job as interim dean is to keep the train moving forward aggressively,” says Woodson.

A nationwide search is under way to name Lechtenberg’s replacement. Purdue Provost Sally Mason says she hopes to have a dean appointed by the end of the year.

In the meantime, Woodson says he is just trying to keep the train on the tracks.

“I want to make sure Purdue Agriculture is in very strong condition when the new dean arrives,” Woodson says. “I’m working closely with our department heads to ensure we maintain our already high standard of excellence.

“That means that we are in strong financial shape and that the resources are there for the new dean to work with the departments and our stakeholders to set in place the next iteration of Purdue Agriculture.”

So Woodson will keep the train moving forward so no time is lost in waiting for new leadership.

“Certainly, the tracks were laid through the strategic plan developed by Vic and College of Agriculture faculty,” says Woodson. “As interim dean, it’s not my goal or responsibility to set in place my vision for the school. It’s about keeping the momentum going and keeping us on track for the success that we have already been enjoying under Vic’s leadership.”

Even though it may only be on an interim level, Woodson clearly is enjoying his time in the dean’s office, where he is focused on looking ahead.

“This is a very exciting job, so there really isn’t a lot of time to think about what you left behind,” says Woodson, who is wearing two hats as director of Purdue’s Agricultural Research Programs and interim dean.

In 1998, his appointment to associate dean of agriculture and director of Agricultural Research Programs put Woodson in the influential position of no longer overseeing his own research project but every research project in the College of Agriculture—every microscope, test tube, pipette and petri dish.

“I miss some aspects of research,” he says. “Thinking about it, waking up every morning worrying about the stuff that is going on in my research program.”

As interim dean, his sleeping habits have not changed significantly.

“I still wake up in the middle of the night thinking about things,” says Woodson. “But now I’ve just got a lot of different stuff to think about. And that is really exciting.

“In administration, you know what is going on in research because you help set the agenda for research. You are thinking about it all the time because you are living the excitement of discovery vicariously through the students and the researchers.”

Contact Woodson at woodson@purdue.edu