Ag Dean at Virginia Tech to Retire

BLACKSBURG, Va., June 13, 2002 - Andy Swiger, dean of Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the longest serving agriculture dean in the Southern region of the United States, announced he will retire Jan. 1.

Swiger, who has served as agriculture dean since 1992, was praised by university President Charles Steger for helping position Virginia Tech as a leader in research and the teaching of emerging biological sciences while also preserving the university's traditional support to production agriculture.

"Dr. Swiger's quiet and effective leadership has helped Virginia Tech evolve into an institution that truly has the potential to reach the top ranks of research universities in this country," Steger said. "His influence has been felt throughout the university."

Swiger joined the faculty of Virginia Tech in 1980 as head of the Department of Animal Science. He served as director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station before being named agriculture dean in 1992.

Soon after assuming the deanship, Swiger was faced with managing major budget reductions that have never been fully recouped. This year, he has guided planning to help the college weather another set of major state budget cuts.

"The spirit and future of our college is strong because we have an abundance of outstanding faculty and staff and because the industry of agriculture has never had a time when the capability to produce new and better foods more efficiently was more promising nor more needed," Swiger said. "We must capture that promise."

During his tenure as dean, the college's biotechnology effort has matured into a program that has won national respect, and the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute was established, with many of its faculty members also holding positions in the agriculture college. Important new facilities have been planned and are nearing funding, and the efforts of agricultural researchers and of Virginia Cooperative Extension have been focused to serve emerging as well as traditional clients.

In addition, Virginia Tech has risen to No. 7 nationally in agricultural research, as reported by the National Science Foundation. Agricultural research and development accounts for one-third of the research spending at Virginia Tech.

Two years ago, Swiger was named to the Animal Science Hall of Fame at Ohio State University. He earned his bachelor's degree in animal husbandry from that university in 1954. He earned his master's and doctoral degrees from Iowa State University. He worked as a geneticist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture before joining the faculty of the University of Nebraska. In 1965, Swiger returned to Ohio State, where he established a comprehensive research program in swine and beef genetics.

Swiger has received a number of awards during his career, including the Rockerfeller Prentice Memorial Award, one of the highest awards available to animal scientists. He is also credited with having an impact on the field of animal breeding and quantitative genetics through his teaching activities.

A native of Waverly, Ohio, Swiger and his wife, Mary, intend to remain in Blacksburg following his retirement.