Full of historical items and memorable artifacts, Daniel Robison’s office seems more like that of Indiana Jones, not of a professor of forestry and environmental resources. Now, this is also the office of the future dean of the agriculture college at West Virginia University.

Robison is now finishing up his final months at N.C . State before setting off for the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design at WVU . Robison said he decided to apply for the dean’s position after hearing about the reputation of Davis College.

” WVU  and the Davis College have great programs,” Robison said. “The combination of agriculture, natural resources and design gives the college a very unique outlook on study and research.”

This broad spectrum of disciplines will pose new challenges for Robison, and he said he’s looking to learn more on how to integrate the different fields. He also admires WVU’s exciting atmosphere.

“The university [ WVU ] is so excited about the future,” Robison said. “They’re really investing in the progress of the institution and are definitely pursuing their own future.”

As a forester at heart, Robison said West Virginia is geographically pleasing and will provide new types of research to improve sustainability.

A search committee selected Robison for the position from a pool of applicants who visited  WVU  in November and December. Since July 2011, an interim dean has overseen the Davis College’s activities. Robison will officially become its dean on May 31. Although administrative tasks will be an important part of his responsibilities, Robison said his focus is on the successes of the college’s students and faculty.

“The important thing at any university is to bring students and faculty to work together,” Robison said.

Robison said he is enthusiastic about participating in ongoing and future projects at the Davis College.

“It’s about what we can create together once I get there,” Robison said. “Success is written by the students who graduate and by the faculty who research and discover new things.”

In the meantime, Robison continues to fulfill his duties within the College of Natural Resources at N.C . State. Currently, he helps with research, arranges collaborations and oversees the distribution of funding for research projects.

Until his departure, he will prepare for his new position by paying special attention to the design and agriculture departments, to gain a better sense of what those respective departments at WVU expect of him.

Robison insisted that while he has sincerely enjoyed his time here in Raleigh, he feels that this is the next step up from his position as associate dean of research at N.C . State.

“As [an] associate dean, we are always looking for the next level up,” he said. “We always have our feelers out. When [ WVU ] contacted me, I decided to see if it was a good fit.”

Robison has been at N.C . State since 1997, and said he’s only experienced professional collaboration.

“N.C . State has always been an institution of togetherness, which isn’t at all true for every university,” Robison said. “I am certainly going to miss the people who prove to me that collegiality is the key to success.”

Though he’s leaving at the end of the spring semester, Robison said, wherever he goes, he’ll bleed red.