News & Notes, September 2023

Gregory Goins, Ph.D., former professor and chair of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design is appointed to serve as Associate Dean for Research, where he has served in an interim capacity since 2022. Dr. Goins has served as the co-director of the Small Farms Resource and Innovation Center (SFRIC). He also previously served as an associate professor of environmental biology at NC A&T as the Undergraduate Education Program Director with the National Science Foundation, and as a research scientist focusing on plant space biology and environmental systems at NASA. In the role of Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Goins will provide leadership and strategic management to foster excellence in the operations, productivity, and continued improvement for the agricultural Research Program while increasing our competitive research portfolio and other research productivity metrics. He will focus on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and integration across our tripartite mission areas to better position CAES as a top R1 college.

Niroj Aryal, Ph.D., associate professor of biological engineering, is appointed to serve as Interim Chair for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design. Dr. Aryal has served as PI or Co-PI on several research projects funded for more than $22M, focusing on water quality and hydrology, non-point source pollution engineering, watershed management, emerging pollutants, phytoremediation, stormwater management, BMPs, ecological engineering, classroom instructional techniques and engineering education. Dr. Aryal earned awards include the University Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award and the 2022 CAES Outstanding Young Investigator award. In the role of interim chair for NRED, Dr. Aryal will provide administrative and budgetary leadership of the Department, work with faculty, staff and administrators to ensure efficient operations of the department and enhancement of student success. He will engage departmental faculty in the drive to achieve higher research productivity as the university embarks on its transition to R1 status.

Adonica Williams, MBA, former budget manager in Agricultural Research, is appointed to serve as Assistant Dean for Administration. Prior to joining CAES, Adonica served as a Contract and Grants Accountant and later joined the Division of Research and Economic Development (DORED) as budget manager. In 2010 Adonica joined the CAES as Ag Research’s Grant Administrator and later became Ag Research’s Budget Manger. In the role of Assistant Dean for Administration, Adonica will support the Office of the Dean in performing accounting and managerial functions associated with the administration of CAES budgets, administrative policies and processes, as well as managing the 1890 Facilities Grant Program. Adonica will also focus on reducing the burden of administrative processes across the college and introducing tailored training and development opportunities for CAES faculty and staff.