Keela Trennepohl has been named the Western Illinois University Interim Director of the School of Agriculture.
“I’m excited to be the next director,” Trennepohl said. “Ag is and always has been an elite, signature program at WIU. We are entering a new era and setting the tone for the rebuilding that is taking place on campus. It is more important than ever to show our current, future, and past students that WIU Ag is improving.”
Trennepohl has been in the role since June 1 after spending eight years at WIU teaching courses in animal science and serving as a co-advisor for WIU’s Hoof and Horn club and advisor for the WIU Ag Council. She also manages the Performance Bull Test and cow herd at WIU.
“I have been in the cattle industry my whole life, growing up on a cattle operation in southwest Wisconsin and currently my husband, Chris, and I own and operate True North Cattle, a registered Angus and Simmental operation in Macomb alongside our daughters Maroska and Kort.”
One of Trennepohl’s major tenets is to put students first and that will only be amplified through her new role.
“We see you,” she said. “You are the first priority, and I promise to do everything in my power to get you the best education possible in order to set you up for continued success. To our future students, majoring in Agriculture offers immense job opportunities. There are more jobs available in agriculture than there are people to fill them. The WIU Ag program offers an opportunity to really get to know the professors that work here, and that means not only do you get a unique hands-on learning experience, but you get a network of people across the world doing amazing things in Agriculture.”
Trennepohl has several goals for the School of Agriculture. She wants to see continued expansion of the agricultural program through highlighting strengths in livestock production, plant breeding, sustainable ag, and business while obtaining increased support to further enhance agronomy and ag education. Building relationships across campus to find new synergies with the business, education, science, and communication programs will also be critical.
“One of my goals is to have WIU Agriculture be one of the most sought-after programs in the country, and I’m ready to work with my colleagues, students, and alumni to see that goal come to fruition,” Trennepohl said.
To learn more about the WIU School of Agriculture, visit wiu.edu/cbt/agriculture/.
