UW-Madison Forms Committee to Pick New CALS Dean
A search committee chaired by Katrina Forest will guide the selection of the next leader of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People
UW-Madison has appointed a search committee to select the next dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), chaired by Katrina Forest of the Department of Bacteriology. The search follows former dean Glenda Gillaspy's move to a new role as director of the Wisconsin Rural Partnerships Institute.
Why it matters
The CALS dean leads more than 250 faculty and 800 staff across 14 academic departments, shaping one of the university's largest units. For Madison and the wider state, the college's leadership directly affects research and education tied to Wisconsin's agricultural economy.
CALS enrolls 4,560 undergraduate and 780 graduate students and generates $884.2 million in total economic impact across Wisconsin. That figure is set against a state agricultural economy totaling $116.3 billion.
The players
Katrina Forest
Forest chairs the Department of Bacteriology in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and will lead the search committee for the next CALS dean.
Glenda Gillaspy
Gillaspy served as dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences before moving to lead the Wisconsin Rural Partnerships Institute.
Troy Runge
Runge was selected in July 2026 to serve as interim dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Isaacson, Miller
Isaacson, Miller is a search firm assisting UW-Madison in identifying candidates for the college's dean position.
The details
Members of the UW-Madison community can offer input to the search committee through an online survey or at two public listening sessions held via Zoom on Nov. 18 and 19. Isaacson, Miller, a search firm, is assisting with the search, and applications must be received by Feb. 15, 2027. Troy Runge was selected in July to serve as interim dean in the meantime.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Glenda Gillaspy announces she will move to a new role as director of the Wisconsin Rural Partnerships Institute.
July 2026: Troy Runge is selected to serve as CALS interim dean.
Nov. 18, 2026: First public listening session for community input.
Nov. 19, 2026: Second public listening session for community input.
Feb. 15, 2027: Deadline for dean applications to be received.
Leadership Transition
This search continues the succession that began when Glenda Gillaspy departed the deanship and Troy Runge was named interim dean in July. The committee's work will determine whether the college's permanent leadership follows the same path.
Community members who want a voice in the choice can submit input through the online survey or attend one of the Zoom listening sessions. The outcome will shape the research, teaching, and extension programs that serve Wisconsin residents.
The takeaway
Anyone with an interest in the direction of Wisconsin agriculture research can participate through the listening sessions before applications close in February 2027.
What happens next
Public listening sessions will be held via Zoom on Nov. 18 and 19, 2026, and dean applications are due by Feb. 15, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more People coverage to see other leadership moves shaping Madison's institutions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wisconsin State Journal.
