Update, 9 a.m.:

Penn State officially announced Roush’s exit from the role. He’ll step down as dean on September 17, and László Kulcsár will step in in an interim capacity on September 18.

“We appreciate all that Rick has done in leading the College of Agricultural Sciences over the past nine years to support and grow the college’s vital teaching, research and outreach efforts,” Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz said in a release. “The college’s work is not only an important part of Penn State’s land-grant mission, but also has been instrumental in tackling many of the broader issues facing the world today.”

 Kulcsár, meanwhile, serves as the College of Agriculture’s head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education. He’s also a professor of rural sociology and demography.

A national search for Roush’s permanent replacement will begin shortly, according to Penn State.

Original Story:

Penn State College of Agriculture Dean Richard Roush shared he’ll step down as dean effective September 15, he announced in an email to the college Thursday night. He’ll officially retire from the position in December.

Roush served as the dean of the College of Agriculture for nine years. He previously worked at a slew of universities, including the University of Melbourne, Cal, the University of Adelaide, Cornell, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M, before landing in Happy Valley.

Roush cited his children’s and grandchildren’s residences in Australia as part of his decision-making process to retire. He added that he and his wife will begin the process of moving to Australia after the conclusion of his work at Penn State.

“Although this was a difficult decision, it is the right decision,” Roush said in the email.

Roush listed a handful of accomplishments the College of Agriculture achieved throughout his leadership, including earning the most USDA predoctoral fellowships of any institution for the last five years, completing the renovation of the Agricultural and Bioengineering Building, increasing tenure-track female faculty by nearly 17%, and many more.

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime working with all of you during my tenure here,” Roush said. “Our College has incredibly talented faculty, educators, and staff. I am very proud that together we have accomplished a great deal, with a strong trajectory for the future.”

Roush noted a search for interim leadership has already begun within administration.