The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) recently held a reception honoring former interim dean and professor of animal science, Cameron Faustman, upon his retirement.
“To know Cameron Faustman is a true privilege and honor,” says CAHNR Dean and Director, Indrajeet Chaubey. “His spirit, dedication to our community, and expertise in his field have enriched our College beyond words. We are incredibly grateful to him for his continued support of CAHNR, our students, and the University of Connecticut.”
Faustman was not just a beloved administrator and researcher – he is also a CAHNR alumnus. He received a dual Bachelor of Science in agricultural education and natural resources conservation from UConn in 1982.
He returned to CAHNR as a professor in the Department of Animal Science in 1989 after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
As a researcher, Faustman focused on the biochemistry of animal-based food products and issues surrounding food policy and safety. Throughout his career, he established himself as a well-respected leader in the field. He passed on this knowledge to students through a hands-on approach to learning.
“Cameron Faustman is the epitome of a faculty member in the land grant mission,” says Professor Steven Zinn in the Department of Animal Science. “He conducted excellent basic and applied research, was a phenomenal teacher and mentor, and could communicate his research to the general public. For the last 32 years, I have been fortunate to be able to call Cameron my colleague and my friend.”
In addition to professor, Faustman served as the department head of animal science, associate dean, and took on the position of interim dean of CAHNR in 2017.
Through all his roles Faustman promoted a culture of supporting students.
“Students who come from our College really do feel the faculty and staff care about them,” Mike O’Neill, associate dean and associate director for UConn Extension says. “And we do – it’s part of our culture.”
During his time as an administrator, Faustman also helped promote study abroad opportunities for CAHNR students. CAHNR faculty established programs abroad that allowed students to engage in practical applications of their studies in an international context.
“He wanted our College to always provide life-transformative education for our students,” says. Sandra Bushmich, associate dean for academic programs.
Faustman’s vision for the College focused on how it could adapt to the changing agricultural natural resource and health landscape.
“He was just amazing at moving the department forward and getting faculty engaged,” Bushmich says. “He was very inspirational and always had the best interests of the department, students, and, later on, the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, in mind.”
At the event celebrating Faustman’s retirement, he was presented with a custom-made bench from the UConn Forestry Club crafted from a fallen tree in the UConn Forest.
As part of his legacy to the College, Faustman and his wife Carol Faustman established a scholarship for animal science students focusing on food science.
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