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Benjamin Houlton reappointed as CALS dean, who will lead ambitious new initiatives

Posted on by Pranco
Benjamin Houlton reappointed as CALS dean, who will lead ambitious new initiatives

Benjamin Z. Houlton has been reappointed as Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the university announced Oct. 24. The executive committee of the Cornell Board of Trustees has approved the new five-year term. effective July 1, 2025, following a vote earlier this month. Houlton, who began his term as dean in October 2020, is also a professor in the Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Global Development.

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

Runs the second largest university at Cornell

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

Houlton expressed his gratitude for the reappointment and reaffirmed his commitment to CALS’ mission. “I want to ensure that CALS serves as a collaborative hub for Cornell’s initiatives, expanding our impact across New York and globally to innovate practical solutions to the grand challenges of our time,” he said.

Achievements and future initiatives

During his first term, Houlton led several key initiatives, including the launch of CALS’ Roadmap to 2050a strategic vision involving more than 700 faculty, staff, students and stakeholders. The roadmap emphasizes ‘moonshot thinking’ to inspire bold ideas that tackle global problems, focusing on redesigning agri-food systems, life sciences, synthetic biology and climate solutions.

Among his achievements, CALS reached historic levels of faculty hiring, adding 71 new tenure-track faculty members since 2021, and has 32 active searches to combat retirements. Research spending also reached a record high of $275 million in fiscal year 2023, and the college launched the Office of Research and Innovation to advance intellectual property, patents and startup development.

The fundraising efforts have seen substantial success: The To Do the Greatest Good campaign has raised $178 million since 2021, more than doubling annual giving rates and expanding the number of endowed professorships to 10% of faculty. Houlton aims to increase this figure to 20% in the future.

Houlton also co-chairs the 2030 Project, a Cornell Climate Initiative that has raised more than $200 million for collaborative climate solutions. The project aims to integrate efforts across Cornell’s colleges and schools to drive impactful, real-world climate action.

Looking ahead, a new bachelor’s degree curriculum will launch in 2025, focusing on practice-oriented engagement, entrepreneurship and AI applications. Students will take courses in agriculture, nutrition and sustainability, focusing on critical thinking around evidence and diverse points of view. In addition, CALS faculty are developing a new school to connect global sustainable development with natural resources and environmental studies.

Tackling global challenges with innovative solutions

Houlton believes that transforming the agri-food system is essential to combating climate change, with emerging technologies playing a crucial role in reducing emissions and improving food security. He emphasizes the need for resilient strategies to adapt to extreme weather and preserve biodiversity, which he sees as a foundation for future bio-based innovations.

Houlton’s research includes building partnerships with farmers, industry and policymakers to develop carbon dioxide removal solutions while increasing agricultural productivity. His current projects explore the use of rock dust to improve soil health and sequester carbon, 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 earned numerous awards, including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Young Investigator Award and the NSF-CAREER Award.

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