Dean Mary Watzin, new dean of the NCSU College of Natural Resources
What once was home to deer antlers and moose heads is now scattered with boxes and a “Happy Boss Day” card propped up on a desk-side table. Mary Watzin, the new dean of the College of Natural Resources, started to unpack and settle in on Oct. 15. Once a man-cave, Watzin’s new office is now filled with welcome wishes and women’s laughter.
After 22 years at the University of Vermont, three of which she served as the dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Watzin said she is excited to start a new chapter in her life.
“As the recruiter started to talk to me about what was happening at N.C. State,” Watzin said, “it looked like a university on the move … something I might want to be a part of.”
Looking forward to the things she hopes to accomplish, Watzin said she is ready to jump into the world of the College of Natural Resources.
“There are a lot of things I hope to accomplish,” Watzin said. “First, I’d like to start by getting to know my colleagues. This college has some really great faculty and staff all of which are poised to do really great things. We just need to spend a little time figuring out where we want to go and we’ll be off.”
Watzin said she is eager to meet the students and ready to get the word out on campus about the environment.
“One of the things that’s really rewarding is that we get to hear all the great ideas that come from students and how you look at the world,” Watzin said.
“Solving environmental problems and the wise sustainable use of our natural resources is absolutely critical to what your lives are going to be like as you go out into the world. It’s finding that balance whether you’re an engineer, English major, or a natural resource major. Everybody needs to understand how the world works and how people fit into the equation.”
Excerpted from the Technician Online.
Read the complete article by Kaitlin Montgomery
