Lincoln University Names New Agriculture Dean

Dr. Johnnie Westbrook will lead the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences (CAEHS) and the Cooperative Research & Extension Service starting Aug. 4, 2025.

Lincoln University of Missouri has hired Johnnie Westbrook as dean of the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences. Westbrook comes to Lincoln from West Virginia State University where he has served as associate dean and director for Extension Service since 2023. He replaces Douglas LaVergne, who left Lincoln to take a position at Alabama A&M University.

In his new role, Westbrook will lead the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences (CAEHS) and the Cooperative Research & Extension Service. He will serve as chief academic officer of the college, manage its resources, and play a lead role in development and fundraising efforts as well as recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students. He begins his new duties at Lincoln on Aug. 4. 

Westbrook grew up in Mount Gilead, North Carolina, where he worked on a hay farm and cared for livestock and plants at his high school farm. A lifelong interest in agriculture began with his high school FFA experience, where he served as an officer at the chapter, federation and district levels and competed on several career development teams, ranging from dairy, soils and nursery/landscaping to tool identification and parliamentary procedure.

Westbrook holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from North Carolina State University. He earned his master’s degree in agricultural education from North Carolina A&T University. In 2010, Westbrook received a Ph.D. in career and technical education from Virginia Tech with a concentration in agricultural and extension education. His previous academic career includes work as program evaluation specialist and workforce development professor at Alcorn State University; agricultural education professor, program evaluation specialist, and agriculture and natural resources program leader at North Carolina A&T State University; associate Extension administrator and assistant research director at Kentucky State University; and coordinator of the agricultural education program at Virginia State University. He has also taught sustainable agriculture, production and animal science at numerous high schools in North Carolina.

“Dr. Westbrook’s roots in agriculture and passion for learning make him an excellent fit for Lincoln University,” says LU President John B. Moseley. “We are excited to welcome him to the Blue Tiger family and look forward to the experience and energy he brings to serve our students, support our communities and lead the future of our agriculture programs.”

Westbrook says he has a threefold focus for his new position:

• Extension: To help Extension professionals develop educational programs to help sustain small farms through business management, alternative enterprises and marketing. Continue to build the existing agriculture, community development, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H Youth Development based on stakeholders’ needs and issues.
• Research: To help research scientists to develop innovative research projects based on farmers’ needs to sustain small farms.
• Teaching: To provide students with experiential learning and internship opportunities to prepare them for future employment in agriculture.

“I am excited for the opportunity to provide leadership to the three mission areas of Extension, research and teaching at Lincoln University,” he says. “My passion is helping communities, faculty, farmers, students and youth thrive in a challenging environment by investing in people, programs, projects and performance.”