Portage Times

Ann Christy, interim associate dean and director for Academic Programs at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has been named associate dean and director for CFAES Academic Programs, pending final approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees.

Her appointment began Jan. 1 and runs through June 30, 2026.

Christy, who is also a professor of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) and a professor of engineering education, previously served as chair of the Academic Affairs Committee for FABE, and then served as interim associate dean for Undergraduate Education and Student Services at Ohio State’s College of Engineering. Other university roles Christy has served include:

• provost faculty fellow, Office of Academic Affairs.
• interim director/interim chair, Engineering Education Innovation Center/Department of Engineering Education, College of Engineering.
• assistant dean for Teaching and Learning, College of Engineering.

She has won numerous university and national awards, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences, and has authored or co-authored more than 145 publications.

A registered professional engineer and a second-generation woman engineer before becoming a faculty member, Christy worked for an environmental engineering firm in New Jersey and continues to collaborate with the environmental consulting industry.

“During her short time as interim, Dr. Christy has already made headway with a pilot program to increase enrollment and recruitment of CFAES students,” said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State’s vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES. “Dr. Christy is committed to our ‘students-first’ philosophy and will continue to lead CFAES at the forefront of student success at Ohio State, including our university-best first-year retention and graduation rates and the awarding of more undergraduate scholarship dollars than any other college at Ohio State.”

Christy earned her PhD in environmental systems engineering from Clemson University, and her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering and Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Ohio State. Her research is in bioenergy, the environment, and engineering education. Some of the university classes that she has taught include courses in bioenergy, biological engineering, environmental HVAC controls, professional development, thermodynamics, waste management, first-year engineering design, senior capstone design, and college teaching.

In her new role as associate dean and director for CFAES Academic Programs, Christy will provide leadership to the college portfolio of undergraduate student recruitment, development and support programs, curriculum management, and teaching and learning. She joins CFAES associate deans Gary Pierzynski and Jackie Wilkins in providing leadership to the college’s three mission areas of teaching, research, and outreach.

“In stepping into this position, I feel like I am following in the footsteps of heroes of CFAES and other personal heroes of mine who challenged and encouraged my passion for teaching,” Christy said. “It is an honor and a humbling experience to be added to the roll of exceptional associate deans committed to teaching and learning and, most importantly, to putting our students first.”  

She said striving to help students and co-workers achieve their best is what inspired her to teach.

“It’s about seeing that spark of divinity, of greatness, in each of them,” Christy said. “It’s setting high standards and then partnering with people to meet and exceed them. It’s about having compassion for our daily struggles with difficult life challenges and decisions. It’s about pursuing and inspiring transformational professional and personal growth in service to the shared common good. I think it is ultimately about love.”

Original source can be found here