Washington State University College of Agriculture Dean Records, 1945-1979

The College of Agriculture began as one of six divisions of the Washington Agricultural College, Experiment Station, and School of Science in 1892. The Division of Agriculture became the Department of Agriculture in 1894 when the departmental system was organized. In 1917, the departmental system was reformed into a system of schools and colleges, one of which was the College of Agriculture.

In an attempt to better coordinate agricultural work and research at the College, the experiment stations, and throughout the state, the Institute of Agricultural Sciences was formed at the State College of Washington in 1946. The Institute included the College of Agriculture, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Washington Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the Agricultural Extension Service. This administrative arrangement existed until September, 1965, when a revised version of the previous system was adopted by Washington State University.

Directors of the Experiment Station:

*George Lilley, 1891-1892

*John W. Heston, 1892-1893

*E. A. Bryan, 1893-1907

R. W. Thatcher, 1907-1913

Ira D. Cardiff, 1913-1917

George Severance, 1917-1919 (acting)

Edward C. Johnson, 1919-1945

Mark T. Buchanan, 1945-1956, 1958-1966

J. S. Carver, 1956-1957 (acting)

Louis L. Madsen, 1957-1958 (acting)

John S. Robbins, 1966-1970

Lowell Rasmussen, 1970-1971 (interim)

James Nielson, 1971-1977

Dennis L. Oldenstadt, 1977-1978, 1985-1986 (acting)

Landis L. Boyd, 1978-1985

James J. Zuiches, 1986-1995

James R. Carlson, 1994-2000

Ralph P. Cavalieri, 2000-2013

James W. Moyer, 2013-

*Served as Director while president of WSU. The directorship was separated from the presidency in 1907.

Heads of the Department of Agriculture:

W. J. Spillman, 1894-1901

E. E. Elliot, 1901-1908

George Severance, 1908-1910

R. W. Thatcher, 1910-1913

George Severance, 1913-1917

Deans of the College of Agriculture:

E. C. Johnson, 1919-1948

S. P. Swenson, 1949-1958

G. W. Fischer, 1958-1965

L. L. Madsen, 1965-1973

John S. Robbins, 1973-1981

C. Alan Pettibone (acting), 1981-1982

James L. Ozbun, 1982-1988

LeRoy F. Rogers (acting), 1988-1989

Lawrence E. Schrader, 1989-1994

Larry James (interim), 1994-1995

James J. Zuiches, 1995-2003

R. James Cook (interim), 2003-2005

Daniel J. Bernardo, 2005-

Directors of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences:

J. C. Knott, 1946-1955

L. L. Madsen, 1955-1965