Dr. John Cranfield, a respected and long-standing member of the University of Guelph's faculty, has been named the new dean of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC).
Cranfield, who has led the college as interim and acting dean since July, 2023, began the five-year appointment March 1, 2025.
A longstanding member of the OAC community, Cranfield is well-suited to expand on the college's role as a global leader in scientific research and applied learning, focused on agriculture, food, the environment and more.
As dean, Cranfield's focus will be to elevate OAC's local strength, national leadership, and global impact in food, agriculture, communities and the environment.
"OAC is truly an incredible place," says Cranfield. "As I led OAC during its 150th anniversary last year, I was reminded of the college's storied legacy and enduring relevance in addressing global challenges in food, agriculture, rural communities and the environment. I am honoured to continue advancing this legacy."
Cranfield's journey at U of G started as a student, having earned his MSc and BSc from U of G in agricultural economics. After obtaining his PhD from Purdue University, Cranfield briefly taught at the University of Manitoba before returning to Guelph in 2001.
Since then, Cranfield has been a faculty member at OAC in the Department of Food, Agricultural Resources and Economics (FARE), fulfilling increasingly senior roles including assistant department chair, department chair, and associate dean external relations.
During his time as interim dean, Cranfield has helped to fundraise for a new innovative building for the Honey Bee Research Centre, lead the development of the Foundations in Agricultural Management program in conjunction with RBC, and fundraised for key research chairs, scholarships and renovations to Johnston Hall.
Through these experiences, Cranfield has developed a people-first approach to leadership, recognizing that OAC's greatest asset is its people. He is committed to listening and learning to help facilitate the College's goals and drive growth.
Established in 1874, the Ontario Agricultural College is a global leader in research and applied learning, focused on agriculture, food, animals, communities, and the environment.
OAC is ranked No. 1 in Canada for agricultural sciences and No. 2 in Canada for plant and animal sciences (U.S. News and World), No. 1 in Canada for food science and technology (Shanghai Ranking), and 21st in the world for agricultural science (QS rankings).
