Welcome from the Dean of DCAFCS

Thank you for paying a visit to our presence on the World Wide Web.  I'm Cameron Hackney, Dean of the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences and Director of the West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

I'm proud to return to my home state of West Virginia to lead the College and Station and help meet the needs of our ever widening circle of constituents.  Our faculty and staff address some of the most basic needs of society:  a healthy, safe food supply; economical, innovative fiber products and materials; environmentally sound and sustainable economic development; child care and education; recreational opportunities in carefully managed and protected natural settings; scenic landscapes; functional, attractive interiors; wildlife resources; and a wide array of other concerns.

As a WVU alumnus, I'm particularly aware of the value of our educational programs.  I'm the proud holder of a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and a Master of Science degree in agricultural microbiology from the WVU College I now lead.  As a student, I was struck by the level of commitment and concern displayed by WVU faculty.  My teachers demonstrated a keen interest in my professional development and my personal growth.  Upon returning to WVU, I note with pride that this level of involvement is still very much in evidence; if anything, it's grown.

The WVU College is a uniquely student centered environment.  It's evident in our classrooms and learning laboratories, our farms and forests.  We're home to nationally recognized student organizations; our undergraduates and graduates achieve success in national and international arenas; our alumni hold positions of responsibility in the highest levels of industry, education and governance.

My WVU education has afforded me a variety of professional opportunities.  I've earned a Ph.D. in food science from North Carolina State University.  I've taught at Louisiana State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  I've led the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Experiment Station, served as an extension project leader, and chaired the Department of Food Science and Technology at Virginia Tech.  A solid foundation from WVU's College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences has consistently supported these efforts.

But the College's impact extends beyond the classroom.  Our research and service programs provide information and opportunity that benefits individual well being, industry, community development, and governing bodies, in West Virginia and far beyond.

Faculty researchers are involved in innovative, multidisciplinary research projects addressing diverse areas of inquiry.  Teams are exploring the economic possibilities of aquaculture and sheep production for West Virginia and the region.  An animal scientist is considering the implications of avian longevity on human health.  Water quality issues are being explored from a range of perspectives.  Geneticists are mapping the roots of cancer in human DNA.  Our College is home to one of the world's largest collections of fungi.  Our faculty collaborate with multi-state research teams on projects that could help restore the American Chestnut.

Service is another vital element of the College's portfolio of activities.  A community design team was recently honored by West Virginia's governor for its efforts on behalf of the state's economic development and community growth.  The Child Development Laboratory, or Nursery School, provides affordable, innovative child care while giving undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to learn in a professional setting.  The Appalachian Hardwood Center supports the region's wood products industry, much as the University Experiment Farm at Kearneysville aids the tree fruit producers of West Virginia and its surrounding states.

We enjoy a warm relationship with our alumni, and their ongoing support, combined with that from individuals, outside organizations, and industry, allows us to offer a number of scholarships for students with diverse academic interests.  Private funds also support faculty development and bring nationally recognized speakers to campus.

The College always welcomes input from the people we serve:  prospective students, alumni, industry representatives, scholars at peer institutions, entrepreneurs... everyone with ideas, input, and needs that can help us better serve our community of constituents.  Please contact me at cafcs@wvu.edu with your thoughts, and take the time to explore our considerable Internet resources.

Again, welcome to our presence on the World Wide Web, and thank you for your interest in the WVU College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences!