Utah State University has appointed Derek McLean as the inaugural dean of the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

McLean’s appointment follows a nationwide search and marks a milestone in USU’s history. The college was part of a July 2025 merger to bring together agriculture and applied sciences with natural resources, two of the university's most prestigious colleges, to better address the complex challenges of the 21st century. He will succeed Interim Dean Grant Cardon, who was appointed to the post during the transition.

Derek McLean, Dean of the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources


“Utah State's Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is uniquely positioned to advance the full land-grant mission by integrating research, teaching and Extension to address the emerging opportunities shaping agriculture, natural resources and communities across the West,” McLean said. “I am drawn to the opportunity to strengthen the connection among these areas so that students benefit directly through experiential learning, engagement with producers and communities, and participation in research with real-world impact.”

McLean joins Utah State from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he serves as dean of the Agricultural Research Division. His first day will be July 1.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Derek McLean will be the next dean of the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources,” said USU Provost and Executive Vice President Larry Smith. “Dr. McLean brings a remarkable record of strategic leadership across higher education, federal agencies and industry. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to student and faculty success, research excellence and the public good. I am confident that under his leadership, the college will continue to thrive, innovate and expand its statewide and global impact.”

McLean’s background makes him well qualified to lead QANR, a college with 12 departments that encompass a range of disciplines that go beyond the traditional scope of agriculture and natural resources, including nutrition, geology, engineering technology, aviation and a suite of associate degrees and technical certificates at statewide campuses.

His extensive leadership includes serving as a senior science adviser at the National Institutes of Health, where he coordinated research funding and policy across more than 20 institutes. His career also spans the private sector as senior director of collaborative research for Phibro Animal Health Corporation and a decade as a faculty member at Washington State University.

He holds a Ph.D. in animal sciences from Oregon State University, along with an M.S. in animal physiology and a B.S. in mathematical sciences from Clemson University.