Grafton appointed interim NDSU vice president

FARGO, N.D. - Ken Grafton, dean of the North Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources and director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, also will serve as interim vice president for Agriculture and University Extension. The appointment is effective Aug. 22.

NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani and Provost Bruce Rafert made the announcement

after the State Board of Higher Education named D.C. Coston, NDSU vice president

for Agriculture and University Extension, acting president at Dickinson State

University.

Bresciani and Rafert asked Grafton to take the combined leadership role while

the organization of the agriculture and Extension enterprises at NDSU is

reviewed.

"Dr. Grafton is an ideal leader for this period," Bresciani said. "His work as

dean of the academic area and director of the Experiment Station will

meaningfully connect with Extension Service efforts. I greatly appreciate his

willingness to lead during this opportunity to look for ways to further enhance

how NDSU serves the state, nation and the world."

Grafton began his tenure with NDSU in 1980 as a faculty member in the Department

of Plant Sciences. He also has served as associate dean of the Graduate School.

He became director of the Experiment Station in 2002 and dean of the college in

2005.

"Dr. Coston's exceptional expertise and contributions to NDSU have not gone

unnoticed," Bresciani said. "D.C.'s reputation at the federal and state level

has elevated NDSU in a variety of venues. I anticipate he will apply the same

strengths at our sister institution in Dickinson."

Coston has been vice president for Agriculture and University Extension since

2005. He came to NDSU from Oklahoma State University, where he served as the

associate director and chief operating officer of the Oklahoma Agricultural

Experiment Station and the interim associate director of the Oklahoma

Cooperative Extension Service.

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