Fort Hays State University in Kansas announced Friday the selection of Dr. Grady Dixon, a native of Vicksburg, as the new dean of the Peter Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics.

His selection follows 18 months of service as the interim dean of the college. Prior to this, he served as the chair of the Department of Geosciences at Fort Hays State.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Dixon has accepted this position and look forward to working closely with him to advance the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics and Fort Hays State University,” said Dr. Jill Arensdorf, provost and vice president of academic affairs at FHSU.  “He is an exceptionally innovative scholar, a dynamic leader and a skilled administrator with a unique ability to engage with and inspire others.”

Dixon sees the Werth College as an essential and expanding contributor to the university’s nearly two-decade-long record of annual enrollment growth.

“This is a special place, and I think we have strong leadership in all roles, from the president’s office down to each department in our college,” Dixon said.

He went on to note the college he now leads enjoys a strong reputation for producing highly-qualified science, math and technology professionals as well as exceptional pre-professional candidates.

“Our graduates are finding success around the world, and they are contributing to quality of life in their communities as well as at FHSU,” Dixon said.

A physical geographer with expertise in meteorology and climatology, Dixon’s research topics are broad, but they consistently involve applying weather data to real-world problems across multiple disciplines. Much of his most recent research focuses on tornado climatology, weather-suicide relationships, and the effects of weather on wildlife.

Dixon earned his bachelor’s degree in geosciences from Mississippi State University, his master’s degree in geography from the University of Georgia and his doctoral degree in geography from Arizona State University.

Dixon is a 1996 graduate of Vicksburg High School.