Marc Linit will serve as interim vice chancellor and dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, effective Jan. 1. Linit replaces Vice Chancellor and Dean Thomas Payne, who will retire at the end of December.

Provost Garnett Stokes announced Linit’s appointment [in a letter on CAFNR’s website](http://cafnrnews.com/2016/11/interim-dean-announced-search-committee-set/) Tuesday. Linit is currently CAFNR’s senior associate dean for the office of research and extension.

“I have every confidence that he will work effectively with CAFNR’s internal and external constituents and with my office as well,” Stokes wrote. “I look forward to working with him and with all of you in the months ahead as we prepare the College to welcome a new leader.”

Stokes also announced specifics of the search committee and firm that are conducting the search for a new permanent dean. The committee is composed of 23 administrators, faculty, staff, alumni and students. These individuals, Stokes wrote, were chosen from more than 100 nominations. Mark McIntosh, interim vice chancellor for research, graduate studies and economic development, is the chairman.

Baker and Associates search firm has been chosen to assist the committee.

“The firm has extensive expertise in higher education searches, and Martin Baker has recent experience working with Mizzou on our successful Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement search that led to the hire of Marshall Stewart,” Stokes wrote.

Payne announced his intent to retire in a letter to the CAFNR community in May. He has been dean since 1999, and before that, worked at other universities since 1973 as a professor and associate dean for research.

_Edited by Katie Rosso | krosso@themaneater.com_