Rutgers logo
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Rutgers logo
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Passion Puddle and Martin Hall in autumn.

Leadership

School Leadership

Laura Lawson

Martin Hall, Room 104

Executive Dean, SEBS
Executive Director, NJAES

Martin Hall, Room 104

Executive Dean Lawson provides leadership and oversight for the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. She works closely with university leaders to develop and implement strategic initiatives that reflect and advance the university's research, education, and outreach missions.

Lauren Errickson headshot.

Lauren Errickson

Rutgers Gardens Office

Director, Rutgers Gardens and Campus Stewardship

Rutgers Gardens Office

Lauren Errickson leads the development, programming, and operation of Rutgers Gardens. Lauren actively engages key stakeholders including Rutgers Gardens advisors, supporters, members, volunteers, and visitors; university faculty, staff and students; and statewide industry and community partners. Additionally, she leads outreach initiatives to promote Rutgers Gardens and educational efforts to increase public knowledge related to horticulture, ecology, and health.

Megan Francis headshot.

Megan Francis

Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. East, Room 122

Director, Global Engagement

Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. East, Room 122

Megan Francis is expanding the international agenda for SEBS. This includes increasing the opportunities for undergraduates to spend a semester or summer abroad in programs that fit within their curriculum and enhance their educational goals, highlighting and supporting the many international activities among the faculty that already exist within the school, and cultivating an international community at the school. She serves as a resource for students and faculty seeking information on international opportunities.

Josh Kohut headshot.

Josh Kohut

Martin Hall, Room 104

Dean of Research, SEBS
Director of Research, NJAES
Senior Associate Director, NJAES

Martin Hall, Room 104

Josh Kohut works closely and collaboratively with faculty, chairs, staff, and administration to support our land-grant mission and research excellence. He oversees all aspects of our research enterprise, including federal capacity funds and compliance, assuring all research follows appropriate ethical standards, financial sustainability, and academic excellence. He is an active member of the Executive Dean’s leadership team. He also represent SEBS/NJAES on the Deans of Research Council of the Vice Provost for Research.

Ann Gould headshot.

Ann Brooks Gould

Martin Hall, Room 109

Dean of Academic Programs

Martin Hall, Room 109

Ann Brooks Gould is responsible for all undergraduate programs, budget, and general administration for SEBS. She is also responsible for the administrative aspects of undergraduate education at SEBS, including course and curriculum revisions, teaching assistant and part-time lecturer allocations, articulations with New Jersey community colleges, and assessment of school academic programs. She is a faculty member in the Department of Plant Biology, specializing in diseases of woody and herbaceous ornamental plants.

James Oehmke headshot.

James Oehmke

Cook Office Building

Faculty Director, Office of Economic Development, NJAES

Cook Office Building

James Oehmke is responsible for the development and implementation of new economic development initiatives at NJAES such as the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, as well as administrative oversight of existing programs such as the Rutgers EcoComplex, Center for Advanced Food Technology, the Multispecies Aquaculture Demonstration Facility and the NJAES Technology Transfer program. He also provides economic assessments and operational recommendations for NJAES programs.

Lia Papathomas

Martin Hall

Director of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives

Martin Hall

Lia Papathomas supports government and stakeholder relations that are central to our land-grant mission. She serves as the primary point of contact for external constituencies and builds connections both within SEBS and across Rutgers to identify new collaborative opportunities and support existing programs. She is the main contact for the NJAES Board of Managers. She assures communication and follow-through pertaining to requests, feedback, and advisory representation from state and federal agricultural advisory groups and others.

Troy Roepke

Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. East, Room 122D

Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. East, Room 122D

Troy is responsible in implementing the SEBS Diversity Action Plan. Their mission is to support diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values in our work, interactions, and planning as a community of learning and research to develop a culture of belonging, and a commitment to each individual's dignity. Troy amplifies our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion for faculty, staff, students, and community engagement. Troy also serves as a representative on key campus committees and efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Brian Schilling headshot.

Brian Schilling

Martin Hall, Room 309

Director, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, NJAES
Senior Associate Director, NJAES

Martin Hall, Room 309

Brian Schilling leads all Cooperative Extension programs. Rutgers Cooperative Extension helps New Jersey's diverse population to adapt to a rapidly changing society and improve their lives and communities through an educational process that uses science-based knowledge.

[currently vacant]

Martin Hall

Associate Dean of Graduate Education

Martin Hall

Administrative Leadership

Carl Leikhram headshot.

Carl Leikhram

Martin Hall, Room 226

Senior Director, Office of Public Outreach and Communication

Martin Hall, Room 226

Carl Leikhram is responsible for managing effective marketing and messaging to support the SEBS/NJAES. He ensures that organizational communication needs are met through strategic outreach that executes a mission that promotes diversity, research, and academic achievement. As part of the Dean's Executive Leadership Team, Carl works cross-functionally with university units, to ensure greater organizational effectiveness, consistency, and clarity of all communication campaigns.

Gabrielle Peterson headshot.

Gabrielle Peterson

Martin Hall, Room 104

Senior Director of Development

Martin Hall, Room 104

Gabrielle Peterson is the chief advancement officer for the school and experiment station. She oversees the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement, leading all fundraising efforts including major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, gift planning, and annual giving.

Mazen Shehat

Martin Hall, Room 210

Senior Associate Dean of Finance and Administration

Martin Hall, Room 210

Mazen Shehat is responsible for the organization, direction, and management of all administrative and business offices that support the school and experiment station, including finance and administration, budget and planning, human resources, infrastructure and facilities planning, and information technology for instructional and research support.

Department Chairs

Rachel Lyons

Martin Hall, Room 329

Chair, Dept. of 4-H Youth Development

Martin Hall, Room 329

Nicholas Polanin

Martin Hall, Room 326

Chair, Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Martin Hall, Room 326

James Oehmke

Cook Office Building

Chair, Dept. of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Cook Office Building

Nicholas Bello

Bartlett Hall, Room 121

Chair, Dept. of Animal Sciences

Bartlett Hall, Room 121

Max Häggblom

Lipman Hall, Room 121

Chair, Dept. of Biochemistry and Microbiology

Lipman Hall, Room 121

Siobain Duffy

Foran Hall, Room 316

Chair, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources

Foran Hall, Room 316

Dina Fonseca

Thompson Hall

Chair. Dept. of Entomology

Thompson Hall

Donna Fennell

ENRS Bldg.

Chair, Dept. of Environmental Sciences

ENRS Bldg.

Sara Elnakib

Martin Hall, Room 301

Chair, Dept. of Family and Community Health Sciences

Martin Hall, Room 301

Donald Schaffner

Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. West

Chair, Dept. of Food Science

Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. West

Rachael Shwom

Cook Office Building, Room 212

Chair, Dept. of Human Ecology

Cook Office Building, Room 212

Richard Alomar

Blake Hall, Room 112

Chair, Dept. of Landscape Architecture

Blake Hall, Room 112

Oscar Schofield

Marine & Coastal Sciences Bldg.

Chair, Dept. of Marine and Coastal Sciences

Marine & Coastal Sciences Bldg.

Joshua Miller

Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. West, Room 107

Chair, Dept. of Nutritional Sciences

Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. West, Room 107

Donald Kobayashi

Foran Hall, Room 338

Chair, Dept. of Plant Biology

Foran Hall, Room 338