College of Agriculture
Caffery named new pesticide administrator for the Office of Indiana State Chemist
Caffery to oversee efforts across multiple teams within the pesticide division
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Office of Indiana State Chemist has appointed Sarah Caffery as the new pesticide administrator. In this role, Caffery oversees efforts across multiple teams, including pesticide licensing and certification, pesticide products, and pesticide compliant investigation, ensuring that all initiatives align with organizational goals.
Caffery will also focus on fostering clear communication between teams and the public, providing necessary compliance assistance within the pesticide industry. “Understanding revisions to state and federal regulations is one step, but the next is figuring out how to share that information with the public,” Caffery said.
She continued, “A lot of changes are coming to the pesticide world, like the Endangered Species Act. In my role, I’m determining the best way to communicate updates to our regulated community so they understand what they need to do, while also working on how to properly train our field staff. It’s about bringing a larger, nationwide concept to support Hoosiers — Indiana farmers and growers.”
“We are pleased to welcome Sarah to this new role within our office. She brings important experience and skills with her that she acquired while working both externally and within the OISC. Her leadership and relationship-building skills will serve her well while leading our pesticide regulatory team,” said Mark LeBlanc, director of the Office of Indiana State Chemist.
Caffery’s journey with the Office of Indiana State Chemist began in 2011, when she started in the feed department. She transitioned to the pesticides division in 2015 and, over time, advanced through various roles, including administrative assistant for pesticide product registration and pesticide product registration specialist. In 2020, she broadened her expertise at Bayer Conscience LP, where she led a team specializing in state regulatory affairs. Caffery returned to the Office of Indiana State Chemist in 2021 as the pesticide product registration manager before stepping into her current position in October 2024.
“I had great mentors who took the time and energy to help me understand pesticides. Each role I’ve held has been a valuable stepping stone in my career,” Caffery said.
What truly drew Caffery to stay in the pesticide field was its impact on consumer safety. “I enjoy working with public health pest products that anyone can buy at a grocery store and ensuring that the label is truthful and that consumers are getting products that actually work as promised,” Caffery said.
Throughout her tenure at the Office of Indiana State Chemist, Caffery has had experiences that allowed her to bring valuable insights back to Indiana, contributing to the ongoing development of the state’s pesticide management system.
As the pesticide division continues to grow, Caffery is eager to work closely with each team to ensure organizational goals are met and seamless communication is achieved with key stakeholders. She is also committed to improving internal efficiencies, including the development of new programs and databases. With a passion for project management, Caffery looks forward to addressing challenges through strategic problem-solving, teamwork and innovation.
“I am thankful for the team that I have,” Caffery said. “Our organizational success is due to the amazing team members we have at all levels.”
“Sarah’s attention to detail, drive and compassion have been valuable contributions to our team. We look forward to her vision and leadership as we move forward with continuing to identify ways to keep our regulatory programs modern and effective for everyone we touch in the state of Indiana,” LeBlanc said.
About Purdue Agriculture
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture is one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences. The college is committed to preparing students to make a difference in whatever careers they pursue; stretching the frontiers of science to discover solutions to some of our most pressing global, regional and local challenges; and, through Purdue Extension and other engagement programs, educating the people of Indiana, the nation and the world to improve their lives and livelihoods. To learn more about Purdue Agriculture, visit this site.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
Media contact: Devyn Ashlea Raver, draver@purdue.edu
Sources: Sarah Caffery, scaffery@purdue.edu
Agricultural Communications: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 765-494-8415
