Ken Grafton, dean of the North Dakota State University 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. The appointment is effective Aug. 22.

NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani and Provost Bruce Rafert made the announcement after the State Board of Higher Education named D.C. Coston, NDSU vice president for Agriculture and University Extension, acting president at Dickinson State University.

Bresciani and Rafert asked Grafton to take the combined leadership role while the organization of the agriculture and Extension enterprises at NDSU is 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 began his tenure with NDSU in 1980 as a faculty member in the Department of Plant Sciences. He 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 has elevated NDSU in a variety of venues. I anticipate he will apply the same strengths at our sister institution in Dickinson.”

Coston has been vice president for Agriculture and University Extension since 2005. He came to NDSU from Oklahoma State University, where he served as the associate director and chief operating officer of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station and the interim associate director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

NDSU Agriculture Communication