Alan L. Grant

Alan L. Grant became the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) in October 2009. The College, through its research, teaching, and extension missions, has the goal to serve the people of the Commonwealth and beyond by enhancing the vitality and sustainability of agriculture, revitalizing rural families and communities, improving human and animal health and nutrition, and enhancing the quality of our environment.  

Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Dr. Grant served eight years (2001-2009) as the head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University and 19 years (1990-2009) on the Purdue faculty, where he developed programs in research and teaching, and was involved in various extension and outreach programs and activities.  He also served as the chair of the animal sciences graduate program at Purdue from 1999 to 2001. Dr. Grant’s past research on animal growth has focused on strategies for increasing the efficiency of lean meat production and utilization.  His discovery efforts have also been directed at understanding the relationship between muscle development and meat quality, and have encompassed collaborative partnerships and student involvement. Dr. Grant was recognized as a University Faculty Scholar at Purdue University for his achievements in teaching and research.

In addition to serving in leadership and service roles with State- and national-level programs, Dr. Grant is an advocate of multi-state activities to support land-grant missions, having served in various roles with groups such as the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence, the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, and the Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation. 

He completed his B.S. degree in animal science at Cornell University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in animal science at Michigan State University prior to joining the Purdue faculty. He is also a 2014 graduate of LEAD Virginia.