Rolston St. Hilaire

Academic Member (California State University System)

Term Expires: January 2027

Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire is the Dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (JCAST) at California State University, Fresno. In this role, he oversees six academic departments, four research centers and institutes, and 18 farm enterprises. A dedicated advocate for food security, Dr. St. Hilaire serves as the principal investigator for the Southwest USDA Regional Food Business Center at Fresno State. His scholarly contributions include numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and a published book. He is also the developer of the Mesa Glow bigtooth maple, a drought-tolerant and cold-hardy ornamental tree that thrives in the Intermountain West region. He was honored with the Intellectual Property Award from New Mexico State University for work that recognized his contributions to society, industry, and commerce. Dr. St. Hilaire is regarded as an honest, strategic, and inclusive leader. His leadership excellence has earned him several accolades, including the Distinguished Leadership Award from the New Mexico Chapter of the American Society for Landscape Architects. Before joining JCAST, he served as Regents Professor and Department Head for Plant and Environmental Sciences and Extension Plant Sciences at New Mexico State University. Dr. St. Hilaire is a fellow and president-elect of the American Society for Horticultural Science, which represents a broad spectrum of the horticultural and plant science community. He earned his Ph.D. from Iowa State University and both his M.S. and B.S. degrees from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.