Chico State Announces New Agriculture Dean

California State University, Chico Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Debra Larson has announced the hiring of Patricia Stock as the next dean of the College of Agriculture following the completion of a national search.

Stock has been a faculty member at the University of Arizona, Tucson, since 2001 and has served as the director of the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences since 2018. She earned her doctorate in natural sciences, a teaching credential for higher education, and her undergraduate degree in zoology from the National University of La Plata, Argentina. Over the course of her career, Stock has devoted efforts to promoting research, education and outreach activities related to the art and science of agriculture.

Stock will start at CSU, Chico on August 16, and she said she looks forward to expanding and establishing new educational, outreach and research programs at the University and throughout the North State.

“The College of Agriculture is excited for the passion and commitment to undergraduate education that Dr. Stock embodies,” said animal science professor Celina Phillips, who chaired the search committee. “Her experiences in a variety of production systems, both domestically and abroad, will continue to strengthen our College.”

Stock will replace John Unruh, who has led the College of Agriculture as dean since 2016. During his tenure, Unruh launched the Excellence in Agriculture awards program and established the student-driven Faculty and Staff of the Year Awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the College of Agriculture. He also expanded experiential learning opportunities and student competition teams, established a Chico State Meat Judging Team, and engaged enthusiastically in development and fundraising—helping to grow scholarships and putting the College of Agriculture at the top of the University’s fundraising charts.

“Dean Unruh led with great compassion and concern for every student, faculty and staff,” Larson said. “He has left an indelible mark on Chico State and the agricultural community of the North State. We wish John a wonderful retirement and thank him for his dedication and years of service.”

With undergraduate degree programs in agricultural business, agricultural communication, agricultural science and education, animal science, and plant science, and an online master’s degree in agricultural education, Chico State has been named one of the nation’s top colleges and universities for an agricultural degree. Its integrated agricultural curriculum, combined with the high-quality living laboratory provided by the University Farm, has prepared future agricultural leaders for the challenges of feeding the world and nurturing local communities for nearly 70 years.