NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani and Provost Bruce Rafert today announced that Ken Grafton, dean of the 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, effective Aug. 22.

Bresciani and Rafert made the announcement today after the State Board of Higher Education named NDSU Vice President for Agriculture and University Extension D.C. Coston acting president at Dickinson State University. They asked Grafton to take the combined leadership role while the organization of the agriculture and extension enterprises at NDSU are 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 has been with NDSU since 1980, on the faculty of the Department of Plant Sciences, and 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 have elevated NDSU in a variety of venues. I anticipate he will apply the same strengths at our sister institution in Dickinson.”