By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
The University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus has named Ken McEwan as the new director for a five-year term, which began May 1. McEwan will be succeeding Art Schaafsma, who served as director from 2007 to 2011.
Rob Gordon, Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) says the Ridgetown community is excited about McEwan’s vision. McEwan has been acting as interim director since Jan. 1, 2012. Prior to that, he was the research co-ordinator at Ridgetown. The director position entails overseeing 120 faculty and staff and an annual budget of $18.5 million.
McEwan has a long history with the college, joining in 1990 as a professor in production economics and agribusiness and teaching at the University of Guelph’s main campus in the Department of Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics. In a press release, McEwan said that it is a privilege to be given this opportunity and says he looks forward to working with community stakeholders in his new role.