Ruth MacDonald has been named the interim senior associate dean and associate director of the Experiment Station of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. The announcement was made last week.

MacDonald has served for the past 13 years as professor and department chair of Iowa State’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. She also has been assistant dean of graduate education for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since 2012.

MacDonald fills the position held by Joe Colletti, who recently was named interim dean of the college. The former dean of the ag school, Wendy Wintersteen, was named Iowa State’s new president in October and assumed her new role Nov. 20. MacDonald has already moved into her new role and responsibilities.

Litchfield taking over for MacDonald

Litchfield is the Jane Armstrong Professor in Food Science and Human Nutrition, and has served as associate chair of the department for four years. She joined the department’s faculty in 2002. She is the nutrition Extension state specialist and an expert on nutrition and health promotion. Litchfield earned a bachelor's degree in dietetics from the University of Northern Iowa, a master’s degree in food and nutrition from Kansas State University and a doctorate in nutrition from Iowa State.

MacDonald well-known in her field

MacDonald has conducted international work for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences through the Dean’s Global Leadership Program, which each year sends students to Rome to work on projects with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Before joining Iowa State, MacDonald was on the faculty of the University of Missouri-Columbia for 17 years and served as chair of the food science program for two years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at McDaniel College and a master’s degree and doctorate in nutrition at the University of Minnesota.

Wintersteen began her new responsibilities as the 16th president of Iowa State University, after serving 11 years as the 10th dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In this video, she shares thoughts on her Iowa State journey, including thankfulness for those who’ve made it possible. 

Source: Iowa State University