Haley Oliver promoted to Assistant Dean of Ag Online Programs

Story by Lindsey Berebitsky

Photos by Tom Campbell

August 22, 2023

Haley Oliver, a professor in food science and the director of Purdue’s USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety, has been promoted to the position of Assistant Dean of Ag Online Programs, announced Senior Associate Dean Christine Wilson.

“Ag Online has achieved many successes in recent years. I am confident that with her diverse and successful experiences Dr. Oliver will bring these critical efforts to the next level,” said Wilson.

Growing up in a production agriculture environment in Wyoming, Oliver earned her bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular biology from the University of Wyoming. She loved science but “still wanted to stay connected to production agriculture,” so she attended Cornell University where she earned a PhD in food science, the perfect combination of her interests.

As Oliver looks forward to the opportunities of her new position, she knows she will benefit from her experiences as a professor and as the principal investigator for the USAID Food Safety Innovation Lab.

“One thing I’m super proud of are the teams I’ve been a part of and been able to build. In the USAID Food Safety Innovation Lab, we have this wonderful spectrum of people on our team, where we leverage the strength of our diversity and range of experiences. We've built a culture where we take care of each other and listen. We're all working at 100% effort, but we are also watching the everchanging load each person is taking on.”

Not only is the team in the Food Safety Innovation Lab at Purdue a testament to Oliver’s leadership ability, but Oliver also established food safety labs in six different countries during the height of the pandemic when she could only use the virtual world to connect with them.

Among her other accomplishments, Oliver has received the USDA and Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities John Morrill Award, the USDA Food and Agriculture Science Excellence in Teaching Award, and Purdue University’s Corinne Alexander Spirit of the Land-Grant Award, and the Charles B. Murphy Teaching Award.

Oliver’s time will now be split between her work in the food science department and the administration of Ag Online. Purdue University Online offers classes, varying degrees types and continuing education through the academic departments and faculty at Purdue University.

Oliver shares the priorities she brings to her new position.

I want Purdue Agriculture to stay at the top of the game, and part of our strategy is to meet people where they are through expanding online programming. There’s a view of Purdue being the place to go, but we also have to be able to bring a Purdue agricultural education to the people. The biggest challenge is defining our strategy and priorities from the vastness that is online programs. I’m ready to explore opportunities where we can make meaningful improvements, and where we should invest.

- Haley Oliver, new assistant dean of Purdue Ag Online Programs

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