College of Agriculture 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.

Resources

Facts and Highlights

Growing people, knowledge, and communities

The college awarded scholarships totaling $684,000.
Seven departments with as many as 23 exciting degree programs to choose from
Received over $13.8 million in research grants
1:10 faculty to student ratio

Student Awards

Molecular biology and chemistry student, Sophia Kwende, received the Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Award as the University of Wyoming's outstanding graduating woman.
Former master’s student, Sachintha Mendis, in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics received the Outstanding Master’s Thesis award from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA).
Graduate student Austin Carey in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management received the Outstanding Master’s Thesis award for the University
of Wyoming.
The University of Wyoming meat judging team made a strong showing its first season under new coach Sierra Jepsen.

Total Enrollment
(2017/2018)

1138

Undergraduates

967

Graduate students

171

Student Body Statistics

Wyoming residents

52.4%

Out-of-state residents

39.1%

International students