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Benjamin Houlton reappointed dean of CALS to lead ambitious new initiatives

Posted on by Gerres
Benjamin Houlton reappointed dean of CALS to lead ambitious new initiatives

On October 24, the university announced that Benjamin Z. Houlton had been reappointed as the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University. The Cornell Board of Trustees Executive Committee approved a new five-year term, effective July 1, 2025, following a vote earlier this month. Houlton, who began his term as dean in October 2020, also serves as a professor in the departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Global Development.

“Ben’s strategic vision has been instrumental in addressing today’s unique challenges for both people and planet,” said Interim Chancellor John Siliciano. “His leadership has expanded Cornell’s mission as a land-grant university, advancing research in New York and around the world while increasing funding, faculty recruitment, and modernizing undergraduate education.”

He heads the second largest university, Cornell

CALS is a research and education center with more than 4,000 undergraduate students, 950 graduate students and 1,300 core faculty, supported by 631 faculty members from 16 departments and two schools. Its annual budget exceeds $500 million and it operates globally in 61 countries, reflecting its mission to solve key issues through local and international initiatives.

Houlton expressed gratitude for his reappointment and reaffirmed his commitment to the CALS mission. “I am committed to ensuring CALS serves as a collaborative hub for Cornell initiatives, expanding our impact across New York and around the world to innovate practical solutions to the major challenges of our time,” he said.

Achievements and future initiatives

During his first term, Houlton led several key initiatives, including the launch of the CALS program Action plan until 2050a strategic vision involving more than 700 faculty, staff, students and stakeholders. The roadmap emphasizes “moon thinking” to inspire bold ideas on global issues, focusing on redesigning agri-food systems, life sciences, synthetic biology and climate solutions.

Among his achievements, CALS has achieved historic faculty hiring levels, adding 71 new tenure-track faculty since 2021, and is conducting 32 active searches to combat retirement. Research spending also reached an all-time high of $275 million in fiscal year 2023, and the university launched the Office of Research and Innovation to promote intellectual property, patents and startup development.

Fundraising has seen significant success – as of 2021, the “Do the Greatest Good” campaign has raised $178 million, more than doubling annual contributions and increasing the number of professors to 10% of faculty. Houlton intends to increase this number to 20% in the future.

Houlton also co-chairs Project 2030, Cornell’s climate initiative that has raised more than $200 million for shared climate solutions. The goal of the project is to combine the efforts of Cornell universities and schools to conduct effective, real-world climate action.

Looking ahead, a new bachelor’s degree program is scheduled to launch in 2025 with an emphasis on practical engagement, entrepreneurship and applications of artificial intelligence. Students will take courses in agriculture, nutrition and sustainability, focusing on critical thinking around evidence and diverse perspectives. Additionally, CALS faculty are developing a new school that will integrate global sustainability with natural resources and environmental studies.

Tackling global challenges with innovative solutions

Houlton believes that transforming the agri-food system is essential to combat climate change, and that emerging technologies play a key role in reducing emissions and increasing food security. He highlights the need for resilient strategies to adapt to extreme weather conditions and preserve biodiversity, which he believes are the basis for future bio-based innovations.

Houlton’s research involves building partnerships with farmers, industry and policymakers to develop solutions to remove carbon dioxide while increasing agricultural productivity. His current projects explore the use of rock dust for soil improvement and carbon sequestration, as well as AI-based predictive models to support sustainable carbon practices.

Houlton’s extensive academic background includes degrees in water chemistry, environmental engineering and ecology from the University of Wisconsin, Syracuse University and Princeton University. Before joining Cornell, he was a faculty member at the University of California, Davis. His work has received numerous honors, including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Young Investigator Award and an NSF-CAREER Award.

With a track record of innovative leadership and ambitious plans for the future, Houlton is poised to lead CALS in tackling the complex challenges facing agriculture and life sciences in the 21st century.