Following an internal search, UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources is pleased to announce that Kristen Govoni, PhD, will serve as the next associate dean of academic programs and director of the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture. Govoni will succeed current associate dean, Sandy Bushmich, DVM. Bushmich, who served in this role since 2017, will continue to occasionally teach courses in retirement as a visiting instructor in her academic home department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science.
“Dr. Govoni is a dedicated educator whose commitment to her students, CAHNR, and UConn is unwavering,” says Dean Indrajeet Chaubey. “I am thrilled that Dr. Govoni will be expanding her role within our College, and I’m confident that her leadership will positively impact our ability to deliver life transformative education.”
Govoni, a Connecticut native, came to UConn in 1995 as an undergraduate student of animal science. After completing her master’s and doctoral work in the Department of Animal Science, Govoni conducted postdoctoral research at the Musculoskeletal Disease Center at the Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, California. She returned to her home state and alma mater in 2008 and is now serving as an associate professor of animal growth physiology.
“I am honored to have been selected to lead the academic mission for CAHNR. It is truly my home away from home,” says Govoni. “In the classroom and beyond, I have dedicated my career to fostering impactful, inclusive experiential learning opportunities for my students. I am so excited to extend this experience to a broader range of undergraduates, academic advisors, and faculty members.”
In addition to teaching in CAHNR, Govoni is also the director of the WiMSE Learning Community, which provides academic and social support for female students in the STEM disciplines. In this role, Govoni developed a comprehensive two-year academic program and student leadership and mentoring team. She also teaches First Year Experience (FYE) classes, serves as an M1 Presidential Mentor to support underrepresented students and faculty in the biosciences, serves on the University Senate JEDI Committee, and director of the Northeast Section of the American Society of Animal Science/American Dairy Science Association.
Govoni also maintains a federally funded research program in the field of fetal programming where she mentors undergraduate and graduate students in all components of scientific research.
Govoni’s appointment as associate dean of academic programs will begin in mid-July 2022.
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