Soil Scientist Dr. Rich Koenig has been appointed associate dean and director of Washington State University Extension. He was formerly chair of WSU’s department of crop and soil sciences.

He succeeds Dr. Randy Baldree who served as interim associate director of WSU Extension from June 2011 until September this year. WSU Extension involves more than 700 employees working in outreach programs in agriculture, natural resources, community and economic development, and youth and family, according to a WSU press release.

Koenig joined WSU in 2003 and five years later became chair of the department of crop and soil sciences, one of the largest departments in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.  He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and a doctorate from WSU.