People
Collegiate Academic Leadership
Linda Nagel
Interim Dean and Interim Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES)
[email protected]
Linda Nagel, PhD, serves as interim dean for CFANS and interim director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES). She previously served as the head of the CFANS Department of Forest Resources. Prior to her time at the University of Minnesota, she was the dean of the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources at Utah State University, where she oversaw academic, research, extension, and operational programs. Her acclaimed research focuses on climate-adaptive forestry, public engagement, and partnership-driven resource management that supports communities and industries nationwide.
Julie Grossman
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs
Professor, Soil Agroecology and Organic Food Systems
[email protected]
Julie Grossman is Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and a professor in the Department of Horticultural Science, where her research explores plant-soil-microbe relationships in organic agriculture. In her role as Associate Dean, she provides collaborative leadership for initiatives that support and enhance the undergraduate experience within CFANS, including admissions, recruitment, international programs, and development of innovative programs that promote student engagement and create a welcoming and inclusive undergraduate community. She has received the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Soil Science Society of America, the Organic Achievement Award from the Agronomy Society of America and has been a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico and Colombia. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, and was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University and a faculty member at North Carolina State University before returning to the University of Minnesota in 2014.
Milena Saqui-Salces
Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Programs and Faculty Development
Professor, Department of Animal Science
[email protected]
Milena Saqui-Salces is the Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Programs and Faculty Development in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) at the University of Minnesota. The associate dean for research and graduate programs works with the dean to promote scholarly excellence by providing leadership and oversight to the academic research portfolio and graduate programs. For research, the associate dean oversees CFANS’ research portfolio and collaborative relationships across the U of M and with other research organizations. Interim Associate Dean Saqui-Salces provides leadership and strategic direction for CFANS’ 12 graduate education programs, and development opportunities for a diverse student body. She is an associate professor in the Department of Animal Science and has received several recognitions for her contributions to graduate and undergraduate education.
Greg Cuomo
Interim Executive Director for the CFANS Research and Outreach Centers and Interim Associate Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station
[email protected]
Greg Cuomo is the interim executive director for the CFANS Research and Outreach Centers (ROCs) and interim associate director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES). Greg returns to CFANS from the University’s Research and Innovation Office (RIO), where he served as the director for statewide initiatives and the Minnesota Bioinnovation Accelerator. He brings more than two decades of deep institutional knowledge and leadership experience within the College, having previously served as associate dean for research and graduate programs, deputy director of MAES, and division head of the ROC system. He is dedicated to building strategic partnerships, advancing research capacity, and supporting the University’s land-grant mission across Minnesota.
Michael Schmitt
Associate Dean of Extension
Professor, Department of Soil, Water and Climate
[email protected]
Michael Schmitt is associate dean in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). He provides statewide leadership and vision for the College’s agricultural and natural resource Extension efforts. In this role, he acts as a liaison with the state’s agricultural commodity groups as well as with state agencies. Associate Dean Schmitt has been a professor in the Department of Soil, Water and Climate where he led an integrated research and education program in nutrient/nitrogen management. He earned a Ph.D. and an M.S. degree in agronomy from the University of Illinois and B.S. degrees in agronomy and soil science from the University of Minnesota.
