Paul Vaughan (left) is the new Director of Administrative Services for ANSC, and Megan McLean (right) shifted from a lab course coordinator to become the new Campus Farm Manager.
Over the past several months, the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences has seen some changes in important staff positions with the departure of two long-term staff members, both of whom started with the department in 2010. Director of Administrative Services Sandra Nola retired in July after nearly 30 years at the University of Maryland, and Farm Manager Crystal Caldwell accepted a new position at Virginia Commonwealth University. Meet the new staff leaders below.
Paul Vaughan:
Paul Vaughan has taken over as the new Director of Administrative Services for Animal and Avian Sciences. He came to ANSC from Goucher College in Baltimore, where he was the Director of Budget and Operations in the Office of the Provost for two years.
Vaughan began working in ANSC in April 2022, allowing for he and Nola to overlap for months to ease the transition and better serve the department. “I have always been a proponent of lifelong learning and professional development. Working in higher education, and specifically at UMD, offers an opportunity to continue my exploration of various schools of knowledge,” he said.
Vaughan added, “I want to use this opportunity to acknowledge my predecessor Sandra Nola, the Business Office team, ANSC Faculty, Staff, and the broader department personnel for the warm welcome and their continued support in my assumption of the DAS role. I commit to delivering the best service and direction in carrying out the respective duties of the position, and I am excited to work with you all in the future.”
Megan McLean:
Megan McLean took over as the new Campus Farm Manager in October 2022, following Crystal Caldwell’s departure after 12 years managing the farm. McLean studied Animal Science throughout her college studies, earning a B.S. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2016, and an M.S. from University of Missouri in 2018.
Before shifting into managing the farm McLean had been a lab course coordinator in ANSC since 2018, teaching ANSC 103: Principles of Animal Sciences Lab and ANSC 447: Physiology of Mammalian Reproduction Lab, and assisting with ANSC 205: Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab, ANSC 214: Applied Animal Physiology Laboratory, and ANSC 245: Sheep Management.
“I am enjoying applying what I've been teaching over the last 4 years. It has also been nice to work more closely with student employees and see them learn through experience while also applying their classes,” said McLean.
“It’s been great to join the awesome team already on the farm. I don't know where I'd be without their support!” added McLean.
