DURHAM — Jon Wraith has been named the dean of the University of New Hampshire College of Life Sciences and Agriculture through 2016. Wraith has served as the interim dean since July 2011.

He also served for three years as associate dean for agriculture and director of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station.

UNH Provost John Aber acknowledged Wraith’s leadership through difficult financial times.

“Jon has helped lead UNH to a position of prominence in sustainable agriculture and sustainable ecosystems, while also helping to define the research and educational agendas at the regional and national level. He is the right person to now help COLSA build strength in other areas identified by his faculty as core to the STEM and land-grant missions of the college,” Aber said.

Before joining the staff at UNH, Wraith served as a professor in the department of land resources and environmental sciences at Montana State University and as head of that department for five years.

Wraith said he is excited about the opportunity to help guide COLSA’s contributions to the state and nation.

“Our programs are in many respects more important than ever. Students are keenly interested, and we’re seeing the highest enrollments in the 146-year history of the college,” Wraith said. “The growing awareness of local agriculture and foods underscores the importance of sustaining our vital contributions in these and many other areas.”

The College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at UNH includes the departments of biological sciences; molecular, cellular and biomedical sciences; natural resources and the environment; and the Thompson School of Applied Science.

gmacalaster@newstote.com