Edgar Takes Over At Idaho’s CALS

For the first time in nearly a decade, the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural Life Sciences has a new dean. Dr. Leslie Edgar moved to Moscow this summer from neighboring Washington State University, where she served as the associate dean of research. Edgar, a Kuna, ID native, says her time in the Evergreen state gave her great insight to take on the U of I role.

“Working in Washington prepared me to think differently about the Pacific Northwest and how do we partner amongst Idaho, Washington and Oregon, not just on important commodities that we share across the Pacific Northwest, but also how do we serve as land grant universities, our agricultural stakeholders in meaningful ways,” she said.

Regional Solutions For The Region's Farmers

When it comes to that regional outlook on agriculture and needed research, Edgar said she’s looking forward to collaborating with her peers at Oregon State University and WSU. She added it’s important the three colleges work together on the research that will have the deepest impact on the region’s farming community.

“Part of the original land grant mission was that institutions of higher education at land grants should be the ones failing first on the science, right?" Edgar said. "We should be the ones who are trying out new innovations, new technologies, and if they're not working that we find that first before providing that directly to producers.”

She noted that research will focus on commodities that cross state lines, such as potatoes, grains, dairy, as well as Ag technology and more.