Administration

Laura Lawson
Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Office of the Executive Dean
Executive Dean, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Office of the Executive Dean
Executive Director, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Office of the Executive Dean
848-932-3600
Martin Hall, Room 104
ljlawson@sebs.rutgers.edu

Executive Dean Lawson provides leadership and oversight for the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. She works closely with university leaders to develop and implement strategic initiatives that reflect and advance the university's research, education, and outreach missions.

Joyce Carlson
Senior Executive Assistant, Office of the Executive Dean
848-932-3503
Martin Hall, Room 104
jmcarl@sebs.rutgers.edu

Joyce Carlson provides executive-level administrative support to the Executive Dean and serves as principle liaison and as a primary point of contact for all senior administrators and outside constituents. She is also responsible for the planning and coordination of meetings and other events requiring leadership from the Office of the Executive Dean.

Margaret (Peggy) Brennan-Tonetta
Senior Associate Director, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
Director, Office of Resource and Economic Development
848-932-3776
Martin Hall, Room 210
mbrennan@njaes.rutgers.edu
Website  |   Personnel

Margaret Brennan-Tonetta is responsible for the development and implementation of new economic development initiatives at NJAES such as the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, as well as administrative oversight of existing programs such as the Rutgers EcoComplex, Center for Advanced Food Technology, the Multispecies Aquaculture Demonstration Facility and the NJAES Technology Transfer program. She also provides economic assessments and operational recommendations for NJAES programs.

Wendie Cohick
Dean of Research and Graduate Education
Director of Research
Senior Associate Director, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
848-932-3777
Martin Hall, Room 104
cohick@njaes.rutgers.edu
Website  |   Personnel

Wendie Cohick serves as the SEBS Dean of Research and Graduate Education and the Senior Associate Director of NJAES, Director of Research. Dean Cohick has responsibility for overseeing the SEBS and NJAES research portfolio with the goal of achieving research excellence for both. This includes enhancing research administration to facilitate successful submissions for NSF, NIH, USDA and other federal funding, including USDA capacity funds; promoting interdisciplinary research collaborations among SEBS and NJAES faculty and across the university; coordinating the missions of SEBS-based institutes and centers with NJAES and departmental research goals; and managing strategic investment in research infrastructure and core facilities. She serves as the liaison between the School of Graduate Studies and our SEBS-based graduate programs with the goal of strengthening graduate and post-doctoral training.

Lauren Errickson
Director of Rutgers Gardens and Stewardship, Rutgers Gardens
848-932-7000
Rutgers Gardens Office
lauren.errickson@rutgers.edu
Website

Lauren Errickson leads the development, programming, and operation of Rutgers Gardens. To ensure the demonstration gardens and natural areas of Rutgers Gardens continue to serve as educational resources for all, Lauren actively engages key stakeholders including Rutgers Gardens advisors, supporters, members, volunteers, and visitors; university faculty, staff and students; and statewide industry and community partners. Additionally, she leads outreach initiatives to promote Rutgers Gardens and educational efforts to increase public knowledge related to horticulture, ecology, and health.

Megan Francis
Director, Global Engagement, Office of the Global Engagement
848-932-6385
Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. East, Room 122
megan.francis@rutgers.edu
Website  |   Personnel

Megan Francis is engaged in expanding the international agenda for the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. This includes increasing the opportunities for undergraduates to spend a semester or summer abroad in programs that fit within their curriculum and enhance their educational goals, highlighting and supporting the many international activities among the faculty that already exist within the school, and cultivating an international community at the school. She serves as a resource for students and faculty seeking information on international opportunities.

Ann Brooks Gould
Dean of Academic Programs, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
848-932-3000
Martin Hall, Room 109
ann.gould@rutgers.edu
Website  |   Personnel

Ann Brooks Gould is responsible for all undergraduate programs, budget, and general administration for the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. She is also responsible for the administrative aspects of undergraduate education at SEBS, including course and curriculum revisions, teaching assistant and part-time lecturer allocations, articulations with New Jersey community colleges, and assessment of school academic programs. She is a faculty member in the Department of Plant Biology, specializing in diseases of woody and herbaceous ornamental plants.

Carl Leikhram
Senior Director, Office of Public Outreach and Communication
848-932-4200
Martin Hall, Room 113
carl.leikhram@rutgers.edu
Website  |   Personnel

Carl Leikhram is responsible for managing effective marketing and messaging to support the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences as well as the New Jersey Agriculture and Experiment Station. He ensures that organizational communication needs are met through strategic outreach that executes a mission that promotes diversity, research, and academic achievement. As part of the Dean's Executive Leadership Team, Carl works cross-functionally with university units, to ensure greater organizational effectiveness, consistency, and clarity of all communication campaigns.

Gabrielle Peterson
Senior Director of Development
848-932-3593
Martin Hall, Room 104
g.peterson@rutgers.edu
Website  |   Personnel

Gabrielle Peterson is the chief advancement officer for the school and experiment station and is primarily responsible for overseeing all its development operations, including major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, gift planning, and annual giving. She also manages engaging the Executive Dean and key faculty with donors and prospects for the school and experiment station. In addition, Gabrielle oversees forecasting and achieving annual fundraising goals by working in collaboration with colleagues at the Rutgers University Foundation.

Troy Roepke
Associate Dean, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
848-932-9318
Food Science and Nutritional Sciences Bldg. East, Room 122D
ta.roepke@rutgers.edu
Website

Troy A. Roepke serves as the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for SEBS and NJAES and is responsible in implementing the SEBS Diversity Action Plan. Their core mission is to support diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values in our work, interactions, and planning and as central to our ability to function as a community of learning and research, developing a culture of belonging, and ensuring a commitment to each individual's dignity. As a member of the SEBS/NJAES administrative leadership team, the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion amplifies our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion for faculty, staff, students, and community engagement. The Associate Dean also serves as the SEBS/NJAES representative on key campus committees and efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Brian Schilling
Director, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Senior Associate Director, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
848-932-3591
Martin Hall, Room 309
schilling@njaes.rutgers.edu
Website  |   Personnel

Brian Schilling leads all Cooperative Extension programs. Rutgers Cooperative Extension helps New Jersey's diverse population to adapt to a rapidly changing society and improve their lives and communities through an educational process that uses science-based knowledge.

Mazen Shehat
Senior Associate Dean of Finance and Administration, Office of the Executive Dean
848-932-4214
Martin Hall, Room 104
mshehat@sebs.rutgers.edu

Mazen Shehat serves as chief financial officer for SEBS and NJAES. Mazen is responsible for the organization, direction, and management of all administrative and business offices that support the school and experiment station, including finance administration, budget and planning, human resources, facilities operations and planning, and information technology for instructional and research support.