“It couldn’t be better with anyone else in (the interim dean) position,” Armstrong said. “I’m feeling very good that someone of (Buhler’s) caliber is stepping into the role.”

Buhler said he is integrating into the dean responsibilities, including the faculty evaluations that occur at this time.

He also is beginning to schedule meetings with students in different departments, he said.
Although Buhler’s previous positions were focused mainly on research, his concerns now will shift to include student issues and the broader scope of the college, he said.

“It’s another level of complexity — being able to get in tune and understand the broader area of science,” he said.

Buhler said he expects a permanent dean to be selected for the position by the 2012 academic year and he plans to remain interim dean until then.

The college has been concerned with budget cuts and a possible restructuring of the departments still is under consideration, Buhler said. Committees are working to evaluate proposals and submit an analysis to Provost Kim Wilcox, he added.

Armstrong presented initial draft plans to students in late November 2010, including morphing 13 departments into eight, cutting 25 percent of administrative faculty and potentially shrinking south campus farm operations.

“There’s a lot of different things on the table,” Buhler said.

The college currently is well connected to the agriculture industry across Michigan, he said. It also does a good job of connecting alumni to business leaders and doing research that impacts a wide range of the agriculture field, Buhler said.

He hopes to continue those traditions during his time as interim dean.

“It’ll be about continuing to do what we do while still working in the context of a large research university in the 21st century,” Buhler said.

Interior design junior Brittany Bachteal said the School of Planning, Design and Construction sometimes is overlooked in the college since it does not have an agricultural focus.

She hopes the school will get a little more attention under the new leadership, whether that means more scholarships being available to its students or having an e-mail list that focuses more on planning and design than agriculture, she said
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“When people hear about the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, they think, ‘Why is interior design in that?’” Bachteal said.

“It would be nice if they could somehow integrate it a little better, so it’s not a totally random thing on the side.”

Armstrong said he is excited to take on his new opportunity in California, even though it is bittersweet leaving the university.

“My heart and soul was at Michigan State for almost 10 years,” he said.

“There are always things that are left to be done, but I’m confident that (Buhler) and others will carry on and do great things.”