Contact: Vanessa Beeson

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Scott Willard, dean of Mississippi State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, is announcing several new CALS and MAFES administrative assignments.

“CALS consistently ranks as a top tier school nationally for agriculture and life sciences, while MAFES is a research engine helping farmers and industry across Mississippi and the globe find easier, more effective ways to feed, clothe and fuel the world. This team, which draws from talent across departments, will continue to advance our important work as we train tomorrow’s leaders in both agriculture and life sciences,” Willard said.

Darrell Sparks now is serving as CALS associate dean with Cory Gallo as interim assistant dean. Jamie Larson is interim associate director of MAFES research, while Angus Catchot is associate director of MAFES operations. Additionally, Wes Schilling is serving as interim head of the Department of Poultry Science.

Sparks, associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, brings a wealth of academic experience to the college having worked as an undergraduate coordinator; a curriculum committee representative at the department, college and university levels; and is well-versed in policy, procedures and accreditation processes. He will continue as interim state chemist and director of the Mississippi State Chemical Lab until a new leader is hired.

Gallo, landscape architecture professor, has been named interim assistant dean working halftime in administration and halftime in his academic home. Gallo leads the CALS Living-Learning Community, several cross-college collaborative outreach and student engagement projects, and works with MAFES on facilities/building projects on- and off-campus. 

Jamie Larson, professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, is serving as interim associate director of MAFES research. Larson comes from a research and teaching background, as well as roles in research regulatory compliance as chair of the MSU Radiological, Chemical and Laboratory Safety Committee, and is well-versed in graduate student education and research processes.

Angus Catchot, Extension professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, is serving as associate director for MAFES operations. Catchot brings perspective from his Extension role into a MAFES position where he is facilitating MAFES farms, research support and retail operations. He has extensive research, outreach and industry stakeholder engagement experience, along with an exemplary ability to manage teams and support research agendas.

Wes Burger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, will continue to assist MAFES administration through the end of the fiscal year. Burger previously served as MAFES associate director for 11 years.

Schilling, a professor in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, has a long history of integrated poultry science and food science research at MSU. He is serving as interim head of the Department of Poultry Science. A search and screening committee has been formed to lead a national search for a permanent department head.

For more on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visit www.cals.msstate.edu. For more on the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, visit www.mafes.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.