About the Dean

Jeffrey D. Armstrong:

Jeffrey Armstrong became dean of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources July 1, 2001. He provides leadership to the academic, research and outreach missions of the 14 academic units of the college; the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station; MSU Extension; and numerous institutes and centers focused on agriculture, natural resources and community development at the state, national and international levels.

He works closely with associate deans, academic chairs and directors, and the directors of MSUE and the MAES to improve lives and enhance economic prosperity through programmatic priorities focused on food and health; ecosystems health and services; and the expansion and development of the bioeconomy.

Dr. Armstrong came to MSU from Purdue University, where he served as professor and head of the Department of Animal Sciences from 1997 to 2001. Prior to his Purdue appointment, he was a member of the Animal Science Department at North Carolina State University for more than ten years. His research program in endocrinology and reproductive physiology investigated the interaction of nutrition and reproduction in cattle and swine. At NC State, he served in a number of capacities, including professor of animal science and assistant director of academic programs and director of the Agricultural Institute within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

An internationally known researcher in the area of reproductive physiology, Dr. Armstrong is also active in the area of food-animal well-being. He is a professor within the MSU Department of Animal Science and has been cited in numerous articles regarding animal welfare and behavior. He chairs the United Egg Producers Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and also advises McDonald’s on animal welfare as well as broader issues related to social responsibility in the food chain. He was recently named to serve on the national Center for Food Integrity (CFI) Board of Directors. He is also co-chair of CREATE-21, an initiative of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) with a goal of better integrating U.S. Department of Agriculture research, Extension and education programs in food, communities, agriculture and natural resource (www.create-21.org). He formerly served as President of the American Society of Animal Science and served for two terms on the National Agricultural Reach, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

Dr. Armstrong was raised on a beef cattle, swine and tobacco farm in Western Kentucky. He attended Murray State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1981. He received both an M.S. (1984) and Ph.D. (1986) in physiology and endocrinology from North Carolina State University.

He and his wife, Sharon, have two children, Jessica and Zachary, both of whom attend Michigan State University.