Dr. Karin Wittenberg has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She begins a three-year term effective January 1, 2015.

A professor in the Department of Animal Science, Wittenberg has served as Acting Dean of the Faculty since July 2014. Prior to this position, she led the faculty as Associate Dean (Research) and Department Head of Animal Science.

At the regional and national levels, Wittenberg is an invited member on the Dairy Farmers of Canada’s and Pulse Canada’s research advisory committees. She has also previously served on Western Grains Research Foundation’s research advisory committee and as a director for the Prairie Improvement Network.

Wittenberg’s professional work has been as a member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists’ Ownership Linkage Committee, chair of the first Canadian Traceability conference, and is a past assistant and associate editor for the Canadian Society of Animal Science.

Wittenberg received her Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition from the University of Manitoba in 1985, and soon after joined the Department of Animal Science. Her research program has been directed at the development of sustainable animal production systems.

Wittenberg is the recipient of numerous awards and honours from science peers, industry and the community, including the Canadian Society of Animal Science Fellowship Award, the Manitoba Pork Council Education Award and the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Science and Innovation.