After a year of listening and engaging, Ferruzzi sets CALS on a path of strategic growth.
Seeing opportunities where others see roadblocks is a skill that has served Mario Ferruzzi well.
Appointed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in October 2024, Ferruzzi stepped into the role during a period of rapid change in higher education — and with the fall semester already in full swing. While a mid-semester start in a new college leadership role might seem hectic, Ferruzzi said it gave him a whirlwind intro to one of the most multifaceted colleges at Virginia Tech.
“People are coming to me with their needs and ideas, which is really what you want as a new leader,” Ferruzzi said. “One thing that has been solidified for me after meeting with farmers, legislators, students, Extension agents, and faculty is the tremendous value that CALS has to the university and the commonwealth.”
Hitting the ground listening
Poised to be a steady hand to guide the college through changing expectations for higher education, Ferruzzi's first year was marked by outreach and observation. In his first 100 days alone, he toured six of the university’s 11 statewide Agricultural Research and Extension Centers (ARECs), attended state legislative sessions in Richmond and Washington, D.C., visited classes to interact with students, and held roundtables with each department.
“He really hit the ground running in terms of building relationships, listening to input from key stakeholders and university partners, and understanding what makes CALS so unique,” said Katie Frazier, chair of the CALS Dean’s Advisory Council and chief brand officer at Farm Credit of the Virginias.
According to Ferruzzi, something that quickly became apparent is that CALS’ strength comes from the dynamic range of its people.
“Our identity is very much shaped by our departments and the people in them, and they each approach things a bit differently, which is incredibly valuable for us as a college,” Ferruzzi said. “I've been very impressed by the energy level of the students I’ve met and by their desire to engage with leadership and share their concerns.”
Common interests, commonwealth
Now with nearly a full year behind him, Ferruzzi is turning his attention toward planning for the future. A formalized strategic planning process will launch this fall, incorporating input from faculty, students, and stakeholders, and bringing into focus vital goals formed by months of conversations, travel, and listening.
Among his established priorities are workforce and economic development, land and water use, technology in agriculture, and health – of not only people but also communities, resources, plants, and animals. These remain areas of concern for Virginians who’ve spent the last 12 months facing avian flu outbreaks, strained food supply chains, and the ongoing pressures of inflation.
“Traditional funding sources aren’t keeping pace with what we’d need to give students a high-quality educational experience, so we have to adapt and be innovative in how we fund programs and operations,” Ferruzzi said. “Partnerships with our stakeholders in the private sector are needed to advance innovative educational experiences and alignment to address key workforce needs across our major industries in agriculture and life science.”
One of the ways Ferruzzi plans to address this is by focusing on expanding the role of ARECs as engines for innovation and investment, upgrading the facilities to be premier destinations for public to private collaboration. Development of a new HABB2 research building with a focus on plant and zoonotic disease research, and new controlled environment agriculture facilities that will provide opportunities for partnerships while also representing a commitment to sustainable and responsive agriculture.
Community health is a particularly important growth area for the college, said Ferruzzi, citing CALS’ deeply integrated role within rural communities as the university’s home for Extension.
“During my three years as secretary, I have repeatedly witnessed these challenges firsthand,” said Matthew Lohr '95, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and CALS alumnus. “Strengthening support for rural economic development will foster stronger, healthier communities by creating job opportunities and encouraging the growth of family farms.”
Sowing seeds for the future
A notion that’s common among those who’ve met with Ferruzzi is that his glass-half-full leadership style inspires confidence about the college's ability to be nimble and adapt to the changing needs of the times.
Joe Guthrie '89, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and CALS alumnus, has already collaborated with Ferruzzi on multiple
projects and came away impressed with his penchant for forward thinking.
“I am excited about VDACS being part of the conversation in the long-term vision for
CALS,” he said. “Dr. Ferruzzi has been very proactive in seeking opportunities for partnerships and collaborations.”
Ferruzzi said that if anything has been impressed upon him in all his interactions with stakeholders, it’s that so many have a stake in the college’s success.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Virginia’s economy, and for more than 150 years, CALS has been its steadfast partner,” Ferruzzi said. “The road ahead is complex, but with the right partnerships and purpose, we’re well-positioned to shape solutions that will serve Virginia and the country for generations.”
Evolving with change is never easy, especially for such a large and varied institution, but is there a better time to have a dean who sees opportunities where others see roadblocks?
