Richard B. Standiford, associate dean for forestry and capital projects at the University of California, Berkeley's College of Natural Resources, has been appointed associate vice president for the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Standiford is to assume his new position Jan. 1.

“I'm delighted Rick has accepted the associate vice president position,” said W.R. Gomes, vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “As a 24-year UC Cooperative Extension forest management specialist, Rick Standiford brings extensive knowledge about the division. Rick is highly regarded by his colleagues, trained as an agricultural economist, and has a broad understanding of agricultural and natural resources issues. These will be assets as we chart the course for the division following the past few years of budget cuts. Rick emerged from a field of truly remarkable candidates and will bring a wealth of talent to the position.”

As associate vice president, Standiford will have broad responsibilities for the internal management of the division. He will chair the division's Program Council, which is composed of associate deans, UC Cooperative Extension regional directors and program leaders.

Standiford will work closely with the three agricultural college deans, the dean of the school of veterinary medicine and other senior officers of the university as a member of the executive council.

Standiford earned his bachelor's degree in forestry from North Carolina State University, his master's degree in wildland resource science from UC Berkeley, and his doctoral degree in agricultural economics from UC Davis.

He succeeds Henry Vaux Jr., who retired in January after 33 years with the university.