Mary Catherine Watzin , the current dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, has accepted the position of dean of the College of Natural Resources here at N.C. State effective Oct 15.

Provost Warwick Arden announced Watzin’s selection July 2.

Watzin , who earned her bachelor’s degree in marine science from the University of South Carolina in 1978 and her Ph.D. in marine sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1984, will succeed current dean Robert Brown when he retires in October.

“I’m very pleased that Dr. Watzin will be joining us to lead the College of Natural Resources,” Arden said. “She has demonstrated significant administrative leadership skills and experience, and brings a broad perspective on natural resources and the environment that will serve this highly regarded college extremely well moving forward.”

Watzin has studied a variety of topics relating to the environment, including toxicology, aquatic food web dynamics, algae blooms and pollution.

“While I describe myself as an aquatic community ecologist, my passion is conducting research that both answers fundamental questions about how the world works and contributes to practical problem-solving in lake, estuarine and watershed management.” Watzin said in a statement on her personal web page.

Watzin said solving such problems requires multidisciplinary partnerships across the fields of natural science, engineering, public policy and socioeconomics. According to Watzin , she is especially looking forward to this collaborative element at N.C. State.

“The college and the university have a bold vision for the future, and I am inspired by the transformational change that is under way across the campus,” Watzin said. “Solutions to the challenges of today’s world will come through new collaborations and the kinds of interdisciplinary teaching, research and global engagement that NC State is pursuing. I am very excited to join this effort.”