A former Oklahoman with connections to the pork industry has been tapped as the new Oklahoma State University (OSU) Ferguson College of Agriculture Dean. Dr. Jayson L. Lusk, who served as an OSU Agricultural Economics professor from 2005 to 2017, will return to Stillwater as vice president of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (DASNR) in August. Lusk has spent the past five years as a department head at Purdue University.

“I’m thrilled to come home to a place where I worked for 13 years and help build on the foundation to move the college and our state forward,” Lusk said. “It’s an opportunity to make an impact and to make a difference. It’s also a place where the students, faculty and staff are doing good things, and OSU Agriculture is well positioned with support of alumni and stakeholders to have an even bigger impact in Oklahoma and beyond.”

Lusk's duties will include overseeing academics, extension and research for the College of Agriculture. Additionally, he will lead the college's transition into a new $100 million, cutting edge Agriculture Hall in 2024. He brings a diverse skillset as a nationally renowned researcher, author and speaker on agricultural technology, animal welfare and consumer behaviors. His 2011 book "Compassion by the Pound" coauthored with OSU colleague Dr. Bailey Norwood uses data to analyze animal commercial protein production, especially chicken and pork.

“I’m excited to welcome Dr. Lusk back to OSU as the new vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture,” Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur said. “Dr. Lusk is well-known across the country and will bring a unique perspective and passion to this position. The work of OSU Agriculture faculty and staff, along with the leadership team, is essential to the success of the Oklahoma agriculture industry. I am looking forward to his return to Stillwater and seeing how Dr. Lusk’s vision helps further Oklahoma agriculture.”

Lusk's educational background includes studying Food Technology at Texas Tech University before earning his Ph.D. from Kansas State University in 2000. In addition to previous work experience at OSU and Purdue University, Lusk has also taught at Mississippi State University and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research.

Welcome back to Oklahoma, Dr. Lusk! Our board and staff look forward to advocating for pork production with you for years to come.