College Administration

Kumar Venkitanarayanan, Ph.D.

Interim Dean and Director

Interim Dean’s Message

Welcome to the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR). As the founding college of the University of Connecticut, we are committed to the land grant mission by providing a world class education to our students; discovering new knowledge through basic and applied research to solve complex challenges in food and agricultural production; food safety and security; the health of humans, animals, plants and soils; and creating a sustainable environment for current and future generations and taking the knowledge we create to help the residents of Connecticut and beyond. In summary, our faculty and staff work on problems that matter to our everyday quality of life.

We are committed to providing life-transforming education to all students through close mentoring, hands-on and service learning experiences, research opportunities, and internships. We strive to be a strong partner to Connecticut through the innovative teaching and research conducted by our faculty, resulting in workforce and economic development and through extension outreach programs that help Connecticut communities in each of our 169 cities and towns.

Our strategic priorities include ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply, enhancing health, fostering sustainable landscapes, advancing adaptation and resilience in a changing climate, and promoting diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion through antiracist approaches. I am always keen to discuss with our stakeholders how we can form synergistic partnerships and achieve excellence in our mission areas of teaching, research, and extension outreach. I invite you to let us know how CAHNR can continue to provide leadership in addressing challenges that are vital to us in the state, region, nation, and around the globe.

Go Huskies!

Kumar Venkitanarayanan
Interim Dean and Director
College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

Dean’s Advisory Board