The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is pleased to reappoint Dr. Rene Van Acker as Dean, for a five-year term. Van Acker’s strong relationships with the agri-food sector, alumni, government and industry partners have led to successful new partnerships, programs and higher enrolment.
“Under Dr. Van Acker’s leadership and guidance, OAC has experienced incredible growth and attained new levels of excellence, allowing us to remain at the forefront of agriculture and food. Nationally and globally,” shares Dr. Gwen Chapman, Provost and Vice-President.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Van Acker’s innovation and commitment greatly contributed towards OAC’s success. “Rene helped his college navigate through uncertain times, making important changes and adaptations amid the global pandemic while also increasing OAC’s reputation for research, teaching and learning, and service,” says Chapman.
As Dean of OAC, Van Acker developed a vision and framework for OAC’s first experiential learning strategy and the first new infrastructure master plan in 40 years. He led the creation of new education programs such as the bachelor of Indigenous environmental science and practice program, and course-based master’s programs in food safety and quality assurance and dairy technology and management.
Van Acker helped raise more than $90 million for OAC and facilitated the establishment of more than 20 externally funded chairs and professorships.
Van Acker was previously OAC’s Associate Dean and chaired the Department of Plant Agriculture. Before joining the University of Guelph, he was an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba and adjunct professor at Dalhousie University.
Van Acker obtained a B.Sc. in crop science and a master’s degree in weed science from the University of Guelph. He achieved his PhD in crop-weed ecology at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.