Raj Khosla, a distinguished figure in precision agriculture, has been appointed as the Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). This announcement was made by WSU Provost and Executive Vice President T. Chris Riley-Tillman, marking the culmination of a rigorous national search. Khosla, who will assume his role on September 1, 2025, brings a wealth of expertise and leadership experience to the college.
“President Cantwell and I are delighted to welcome Dr. Khosla to Washington State University,” stated Riley-Tillman. “His visionary leadership and proven ability to guide a large academic enterprise will further strengthen CAHNRS. We are confident that under Dr. Khosla’s leadership, CAHNRS will continue its storied legacy and advance WSU’s land-grant mission of serving all people through education, research, and service.”
Khosla, currently the head of the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University, is renowned for his contributions to precision agriculture. His career spans decades, characterized by a focus on utilizing spatial and temporal variability in agro-ecosystems to enhance management decisions for producers, thereby boosting production, resource efficiency, and sustainability.
As the new dean, Khosla is expected to lead CAHNRS in developing a clear vision that enhances the college’s teaching, research, Extension, and outreach initiatives. His leadership aims to leverage CAHNRS’s interdisciplinary expertise and past achievements to promote academic excellence, foster a dynamic research environment, and elevate its regional, national, and global impact.
Khosla expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “It is an honor to join WSU and have the opportunity to lead CAHNRS. CAHNRS is one of the largest and most innovative colleges at WSU. I look forward to building partnerships and initiating collaborations throughout the WSU system to develop programs with impact across the state of Washington.”
Khosla’s impressive career includes founding and serving as past president of the International Society of Precision Agriculture. He has been recognized with numerous accolades, such as the Werner L. Nelson Award for Diagnosis of Yield-Limiting Factors from the American Society of Agronomy. In 2015, he was named Precision Agriculture Educator of the Year and was honored as a Jefferson Science Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences in 2012. Additionally, his expertise has informed national and international agricultural policy through roles such as Senior Science Advisor on Food Security to the U.S. Department of State.
With over 3,000 students and a robust faculty, CAHNRS plays a pivotal role in WSU’s land-grant mission, fostering academic excellence and real-world learning opportunities. In 2024, the college secured over $105 million in extramural funding, supporting research across diverse disciplines, from organic agriculture to viticulture and enology.
WSU Extension, an integral part of CAHNRS, is embedded in communities across Washington. It works within academic units and subject matter centers, focusing on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, and Youth and Families. With four Research and Extension Centers statewide, CAHNRS ensures impactful, localized solutions to pressing challenges.
CAHNRS contributes significantly to WSU’s extramural funding budget, supporting the sustainable production and marketing of over 300 agricultural commodities. The college’s plant breeding programs have led to widely recognized crop varieties, including the Cosmic Crisp apple, WSU’s top source of licensing revenue.
Khosla succeeds Wendy Powers, who announced her resignation in August 2024. In the interim, Scot Hulbert, CAHNRS’ senior associate dean, will serve as acting dean starting June 16, 2025, until Khosla begins his tenure in September.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://news.wsu.edu/news/2025/05/14/khosla-appointed-as-dean-of-the-college-of-agricultural-human-and-natural-resource-sciences/. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.