Dear students, faculty, and staff,
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Linda Prokopy has been appointed Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, effective July 1, 2025. Dr. Prokopy is an accomplished scholar and leader, having earned both a PhD and MRP in Environmental Planning from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and a BSNR in Resource Policy and Behavior from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Prokopy is Professor and Head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. Since assuming leadership in 2021, she has overseen growth in both undergraduate and graduate student enrollment, increased grant funding for faculty, and successfully recruited new faculty. Under her leadership, ten faculty members have been successfully promoted, and numerous faculty and staff have received college, university, and society awards. She has also raised over $1.5 million for facility improvements and student success.
Dr. Prokopy leads the $10 million USDA-NIFA funded project, Diverse Corn Belt, which involves nine universities, four non-profit organizations, and two federal agencies. The project, now in its fourth year, aims to create a more resilient and diverse landscape in the Midwestern U.S., moving away from the monoculture of corn and soybeans. In addition to the initial $10 million funding, Dr. Prokopy’s team secured an additional $1.5 million grant to develop an information portal, in partnership with the USDA-ARS Midwest Climate Hub, that helps farmers assess the climate-smartness of various agricultural systems. This project exemplifies Dr. Prokopy’s ability to bring together experts from diverse disciplines and foster collaboration across multiple organizations.
Throughout her career, Dr. Prokopy has received numerous (32) honors and awards. To mention a few, she received the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Hall of Fame Award in 2024, the Indiana Water Resources Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award (Academic Sector) in 2022, the Purdue University’s Faculty Unsung Diversity Hero Award in 2020, and the Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 2017. She was also named a Fellow of the Soil and Water Conservation Society in 2019.
From 2017 to 2020, Dr. Prokopy served as Co-Director of the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Program at Purdue, where she successfully expanded staff, doubled student enrollment, secured new space for the program, and led a comprehensive curriculum revision. Her efforts resulted in a highly functional program that continues to serve a unique student population.
Dr. Prokopy has led diverse teams across scientific disciplines, is a recognized international expert in motivating farmers to adopt environmentally friendly practices, and has a proven track record in ensuring excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, extension programs, and student engagement. I am confident that Dr. Prokopy will be a transformative leader as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences expands enrollment and strengthens its global connections, further enhancing the university’s impact in Vermont and on the world stage.
I want to thank all members of the search committee, ably chaired by Dr. Peter Newman, Professor and Dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, for volunteering their time and expertise in identifying an excellent pool of applicants for this role.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Linda Prokopy and welcoming her to the University of Vermont. I look forward to working with Dr. Prokopy as a member of the university’s Academic Leadership Team.
Linda S. Schadler
Acting Provost and Senior Vice President