College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources Dean's Office

Dean Barbara Rasco

Dr. Barbara Rasco is a scientist, engineer and attorney internationally recognized for her expertise in food law, agricultural processing and food quality. Dr. Rasco most recently served as the Director of the joint Washington State University & University of Idaho School of Food Science. She has taught in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in agriculture, food science and natural resources at Washington State University and the University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. She also served as a member of the Graduate Faculty in Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health while at the University of Washington. Dr. Rasco has substantial experience in the private sector and with economic development programs across the rural West.

Her research expertise is in food microbiology, food quality (safety and nutritional properties), and process design. She has developed analytical methods to predict the safety and quality of food using spectroscopic, nanomaterial, and microfluidic systems and has 280+ publications with collaborators from all across the world including her 20 doctoral and 70+ MS graduates. She received her BSE in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, PhD in Food Science from the University of Massachusetts and a JD from Seattle University and is licensed to practice law.

Facts and Highlights

Growing people, knowledge, and communities

College scholarships totaling $708,775
Nine departments with as many as 13 exciting undergraduate degree programs to choose from
Received over $19 million in competitive research grants
1:10 faculty to student ratio

Awards

Claudia Richbourg, Monticello, FL, Program in Ecology (Botany) won the John P. Ellbogen Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teaching Award
Melanie Torres, Westerly, RI, Program in Ecology (Ecosystem Science & Management) won the John P. Ellbogen Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teaching Award as well.
Samantha Nobes, Wall, NJ, Department of Plant Sciences, “Specialty cut flower production and pollinator visitation in protected environments” won the Outstanding Master

Total Enrollment
(Fall 2022)

1526

Undergraduates

1241

Graduate students

285

Student Body Statistics

Wyoming residents

49.9%

Out-of-state residents

39.3%

International students