Benjamin Z. Houlton

Benjamin Z. Houlton is the current dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. Benjamin was previously an academic administrator at the University of California, Davis, where they directed the UC Davis John Muir Institute of the Environment. Prior to that, they were a postdoctoral scholar at the Carnegie Institution for Science.

Throughout their career, Houlton has been committed to devising innovative solutions to the environmental sustainability challenges of the 21st century. As part of their work at the Muir Institute, they led the new OneClimate “Big Idea,” an inter-disciplinary, team-based approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help people, ecosystems and agriculture adapt to an uncertain climate future. Benjamin has also served as faculty director of two diversity, equity and inclusion programs at UC Davis — EnvironMentors and SEEDS — and supported the launch of GOALS (Girls’ Outdoor Adventure in Leadership and Science) at the Muir Institute. In addition, they work with California tribes to empower the application of indigenous knowledge in agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Houlton received their Ph.D. in Ecology from UC Davis in 2005. Benjamin also holds a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University.

Benjamin Z. Houlton received their PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University, followed by a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from Syracuse University. Benjamin then worked as a postdoc in Global Climate Change at Stanford University before returning to their undergraduate alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where they are currently a Professor of Environmental Chemistry.

They are on a team with Augustine M.K. Choi - Provost for Medical Affairs, Kenneth M. Miranda - Chief Investment Officer, and Kelly E. Cunningham - Chief of Staff & Special Counsel to the President. Benjamin Z. Houlton reports to Martha E. Pollack, President.