Dr. Charles Boyer of Oregon State University will become dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, at California State University, Fresno, on July 1, it was announced by Dr. Jeronima Echeverria, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Boyer succeeds Dr. Daniel Bartell at the helm of Fresno State’s agriculture programs.  Bartell announced in October he was stepping down as dean after 14 years and will take an administrative leave before rejoining the faculty.

For the past three years, Boyer has served Oregon State as associate dean and associate director of the Agriculture Experiment Station. Before that he was a professor and head of the Horticulture Department. He holds a Ph.D. in genetics and specializes in biochemical genetics.

“Throughout his efforts in three administrative positions during the past 14 years in Oregon, Dr. Boyer has led multiple complex initiatives that have assisted his university in developing its agricultural programs,’ Echeverria said. “We look forward to working with him to do the same in the San Joaquin Valley.” 

Boyer said Fresno State is in an excellent position to continue to enhance its stature in the region, nation and the world.

“Fresno State's centennial in 2011 will mark 100 years of excellence and engagement in the region,” Boyer said.  “As we embark on the next 100 years, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology will be a leader in sustaining the ‘world-class agriculture’ for which California is noted.  Our contributions will begin with our students and extended to actively addressing the research and outreach needed to deal with the complex issues facing agriculture today.”

At Oregon State, his recent responsibilities include working with all the academic departments within his college and the off campus branch stations in the Oregon State system. He provided direct oversight for five departments and seven branch stations. Boyer also pursued private funding for expanded student scholarships and endowed professorships, developed and implemented strategic plans, and participated in several national agricultural research councils and committees.

Prior to Oregon State University, Boyer administered and coordinated the Intercollege Graduate Program in Genetics at Pennsylvania State University for three years, joining the Horticulture Department faculty n 1982 and teaching plant breeding and genetics. He was a visiting professor at the University of Florida Department of Vegetable Crops from 1989 to ‘90.

At Rutgers University from 1978 to ‘81, he was an assistant professor of horticulture. Boyer was a postdoctoral scholar in biochemistry and biophysics at the University of California, Davis, from 1976 to ’78.

Boyer earned a B.S. in biology at Eastern Oregon State College in1971 and an M.S. and Ph.D. in genetics, both at Penn State, in 1974 and 1976, respectively. Boyer and his wife, Ilhama, have two adult daughters.