Our people

• Margarita Cardona, Director, mcardona@uidaho.edu 
• Charity Buchert, Assistant Director of Financial Operations, charityb@uidaho.edu  
• Joseph Charles, Assistant Director of Budget, Finance and Compliance, jcharles@uidaho.edu 
• Dayna Willis, Assistant Director of Employee Engagement and Operations, dwillis@uidaho.edu  
• Heather Biersner, Executive Assistant I, hbiersner@uidaho.edu 
• Kaitilyn Young, Executive Assistant I, kryoung@uidaho.edu 
• Stephanie Bunney, Financial Specialist, stephanie@uidaho.edu 
• Tammy Greenwalt, Financial Specialist, tammyg@uidaho.edu 
• Linda Wilson, Financial Specialist, lindawilson@uidaho.edu   

• Holly Waters, Director, hwaters@uidaho.edu 
• Robyn Wakefield, Grant Administrator, rwakefield@uidaho.edu 
• Kallie Yielding, Grant Administrator, kyielding@uidaho.edu  

• Debbie Gray, Director, drgray@uidaho.edu   
• Julie Colson, colson@uidaho.edu 

• Erin Doty, Director, edoty@uidaho.edu 
• Ashley Baker, ashleybaker@uidaho.edu 
• Lori Vermaas, loriv@uidaho.edu 
• Dailynn Hampton, dailynn@uidaho.edu 

• Julia Piaskowski, Director, jpiaskowski@uidaho.edu
• Harpreet Kaur, Statistician, hkaur@uidaho.edu 

Members of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board ensure that the work done in the college results in real-world value. The board helps the college identify the key challenges that are most important to our stakeholders and industry partners. These devoted volunteers include representatives from each CALS academic department advisory board, as well as industry leaders, alumni and members of the CALS administrative team. Current members include:

• Dave Bjorneberg — supervisory agricultural engineer, USDA - ARS
• Travis Blacker — industry relations director, Idaho Potato Commission
• Arnold Callison – banker/rancher
• Stephanie Etter — former Extension educator
• Marty Gill — Performix Nutrition
• Theresa Golis — Family and Consumer Sciences Program quality manager, FCCLA state advisor
• Krista Huettig — Red Star Ranch
• Jacie Jensen — Thorn Creek Native Seed Farm (past chair)
• Lloyd Knight — administrator, Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ex officio)
• Zak Miller — chief executive officer, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
• Katie Mosman-Wilson —Idaho Digital Learning Academy
• Cameron Mulrony — executive vice president, Idaho Cattle Association
• Rick Naerebout — chief executive officer, Idaho Dairymen’s Association
• Elizabeth Quesnell Kohtz – veterinarian
• Pat Purdy — Purdy Enterprises, Inc.
• Doug Robison — Idaho president, Northwest Farm Credit Services
• Venkat Sukesula – dairy science and technologist, Idaho Milk Products
• Chanel Tewalt, director, Idaho State Department of Agriculture
• Karl Umiker — Clearwater Canyon Cellars
• Rick Waitley — president, Association Management Group (chairman)
• Margie Watson — J.C. Watson Company
• Addie Waxman — McCain Foods USA
• Laura Wilder — administrator, Idaho Barley Commission

About Leslie D. Edgar

Leslie D. Edgar joined University of Idaho as dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in June 2025. In her role as dean of CALS, Edgar oversees a college with more than 240 faculty located on campus and across the state at 10 research and Extension centers and in UI Extension offices located in 42 counties and three federally recognized tribal communities.

Prior to her appointment as dean of CALS, Edgar served as associate dean of research and director of the Agricultural Research Center in the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) at Washington State University, where she oversaw and provided leadership for interdisciplinary research teams, fiscal and personnel management, and strategic planning and direction for the CAHNRS research enterprise. Prior to WSU, Edgar served as the associate dean of research and experiment station director at New Mexico State University, as professor and department head for the Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication Department the University of Georgia, and as assistant dean for student programs at the University of Arkansas, where she directed the honors and international programs.

As a science and agricultural communicator, Edgar's research focused on human capital within agriculture and the development of effective communication models to enhance management and outreach. During her time as a faculty member, she received 10 teaching and advising awards, including the prestigious National New Teacher Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and USDA/NIFA. Edgar has authored over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, secured millions of dollars in research grants and contracts, and earned 37 awards for research and professional service.

Edgar received a bachelor's degree in animal science and a masters in agricultural systems, technology and education from Utah State University. She earned a doctoral degree in agricultural leadership, education and communications from Texas A&M University.