RALEIGH, N.C. — Recently, North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science named Aaron Kiess, the department’s Braswell distinguished professor, its new interim department head, effective as of Jan. 2. Kiess’ expertise focused on layers, which allowed him to work with egg producers to help them solve problems.
Before joining NC State in 2021, Kiess spent 13 years as a faculty member with Mississippi State University’s Department of Poultry Science, where he worked with poultry companies to address pre- and post-harvest food safety issues, NC State noted in its announcement.
“Dr. Kiess brings significant institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of college operations to this leadership role,” Garey Fox, NCSU’s dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said. “His strong relationships with our industry and commodity groups ensure that the department remains a vital partner to the poultry industry during this period of transition.”
Kiess’ research has included various topics, such as poultry nutrition and farming practices. In fact, he and one of his colleagues, Allison Pullin, recently worked together to identify genetic strains of chickens that are better adapted for a cage-free environment, NCSU added.
Also, last year, Kiess started working with the Office of the Dean as director of strategic operations to improve teamwork across the college. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. all from West Virginia University.
“I am honored to support the Prestage Department of Poultry Science during this transition,” Kiess said. “As poultry science evolves through research innovation and emerging technologies, we are dedicated to ensuring the department’s faculty and students are well-positioned for continued impact.”
The previous department head, Frank Siewerdt, first started in this position in 2023 and officially stepped down on Jan. 1. A national search process has started for the official department head, led by a search committee.
