University of Guelph appoints new OAC Dean

Thursday, July 7, 2016

by SUSAN MANN

Rene Van Acker, a University of Guelph professor and associate dean with extensive expertise in weed management and biosafety, was appointed the new dean of the Ontario Agricultural College for a five-year term starting Sept. 1.

Charlotte Yates, provost and vice president (academic) announced Van Acker’s appointment July 5. She chaired a hiring committee made up of faculty, students and staff that conducted an international search for the new dean.

Van Acker is currently the Ontario Agricultural College’s associate dean (external relations) and a professor in the department of plant agriculture. He chaired the department from 2006 to 2009.

The hiring committee was impressed by Van Acker’s dedication and commitment to OAC, particularly his work as associate dean during a period of great change and fiscal challenges, according to the university’s July 5 press release.

OAC is already working on building its capacity for students to be successful in their studies along with being focused on efforts to help grow the food and agricultural sector provincially, nationally and internationally. Van Acker says those are his two key priorities too as he takes over the helm of the college.

“At the University of Guelph we have a new executive that has been very supportive of the food and agriculture sectors and I think that bodes well for OAC,” he notes.  

Van Acker, a graduate from OAC, says it’s a tremendous honour to be named dean.

“I’m thrilled,” he notes. “I’ve very excited and very happy.”

Van Acker holds a bachelor of science degree in crop science and a master’s degree in weed science. His PhD degree is in crop weed ecology from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

Van Acker says he’s humbled to have been selected from the pool of international applicants.

“I take this as a tremendous opportunity and also a tremendous responsibility,” he notes. BF