James MacMahon, a Utah State University professor for the past 15 years, is the new dean of the USU College of Science.
MacMahon succeeds Karen Morse, who recently was named university provost. USU President Stanford Cazier said MacMahon's appointment was approved by the executive committee of the USU Institutional Council.MacMahon, an ecologist, has been a USU faculty member since 1974 and has served as head of university's department of biology since 1985.
"Dr. MacMahon has been extremely successful in reorganizing and advancing the department of biology," Cazier said, adding "he has an outstanding national reputation as a scientist and researcher.
"We look forward to Dr. MacMahon's capable and innovative leadership."
MacMahon recently was appointed to an international steering committee to determine worldwide research priorities for the International Geosphere-Bioshpere Program. He also serves on advisory boards for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the National Science Foundation and NASA.
He also was a principal investigator on studies of the ecological consequences of the Mount St. Helen's eruption in Oregon and is a recipient of the Utah Governor's Medal of Science and Technology.
MacMahon received a bachelor's degree in zoology from Michigan State University and a doctoral degree in biology from the University of Notre Dame.