Colorado State University College of Ag Dean Ajay Menon receives CLA’s highest honor
At the Colorado Livestock Association Annual Meeting, Dean Ajay Menon was presented with the Top Choice Award. The Top Choice Award is given by CLA to those individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to improving livestock agriculture in Colorado. Past honorees have come from all walks of life, but the common denominator has been that they have all embodied a deep-rooted belief in the importance of agriculture to the future of this state, this country and the world.
“Although his background, is not one steeped with great knowledge in the field of livestock production he does possess and brings to the position a strong business sense,” stated Bill Hammerich, Chief Executive Officer of CLA, “Dean Menon is a man of courage and has not shied away from being an agent for change. CLA is honored to recognize him for his contributions to our land grant university and his efforts to make the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University world class.”
Ajay Menon was appointed Dean of the College of Ag Sciences and the Director of the Colorado Ag Experiment Stations in July 2015. In this role, Dr. Menon is the chief administrative and academic officer with responsibility for leadership of the College’s strategic vision, academic programs, budgets, and related activities including resident instruction, research, outreach, and international collaborations.
Prior to this appointment, since July 2002 until June 2015, he served as the Dean of the College of Business at Colorado State. From November 2011 to August 2013, he was appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper and served as the state’s first Chief Innovation Officer. In that role, Dr. Menon helped establish and lead the Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) to develop an eco-system that cultivates entrepreneurial and innovative activities. In his role as Dean of the College of Business, Dr. Menon led the college’s transformation to a high performing and entrepreneurial school within a large land-grant state university. Currently, he is involved in the transformation of the founding academic college within CSU towards a vision of unquestioned global preeminence.
Previous Top Choice Honorees
F.M. “Pete” Peterson
Paul Andre
Tim Weigand
Cecil Hellbusch
George Spencer
Bart Nyberg
Chuck Muller
Frank Kemp
H.L. “Jay” Rowe
Joe Tennessen
Rue Jensen
Ben Houston
Tom Ferrell
C.W. “Bill” McMillan
Kenneth Monfort
Evan Slack
Champ Gross
W.D. Farr
Forrest Bassford
Fred Anderson
A.R. “Bud” Middaugh
Neil Skau
Lynn Heinze
Leroy Dalton
Willard Simms
John Matsushima
John Holtorf, Sr.
Carl Carlson
Carl “Bev” Bledsoe
Dr. Duane Flack
Chuck Sylvester
Roger Berglund
Hank Brown
Daryl Tatum
Gary Smith
Ray Powers
Don Ament
Tom Camerlo
Jim Heird
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Marshall Frasier
William “Bill” Wailes, Jr.
Terry Stokes
John Stulp
Temple Grandin
Phyllis Woodford
Tony Frank
William “Brock” Faulkner
Don Brown
