January 2009
Accolades
On campus:
Susan Day, assistant professor of horticulture, received an Award of Merit from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA). Day was recognized for her exemplary service to the organization, including helping organize the MAC-ISA annual meeting held on the Virginia Tech campus. Day chaired the Program Committee for the conference, which was attended by more than 350 members, a record number. Day is a member of the MAC-ISA Editorial Committee for the chapter newsletter, Canopy Coverage, and edits the newsletter’s “Under the Canopy” column. Eric Wiseman, assistant professor of forestry, was co-recipient of the award and was honored for his service as chair of the Field Day Committee for the meeting.
Leon Geyer, professor of agricultural and applied economics, received the 2008 American Agricultural Law Association Distinguished Service Award. The award is the highest honor given by the association and recognizes Geyer’s dedication and numerous contributions to the field of agricultural law. In addition to teaching undergraduate courses in environmental and agricultural law, Geyer conducts research on a variety of law and economics topics, manages Virginia’s largest tax-practitioner workshop, teaches farm taxes, and presents workshops to farmers around the state.
Jody Jervis, laboratory specialist, biochemistry, was honored as the college’s Employee of the Month for December. She was recognized for her work ethic and dedication, and her nominator said, “Her enthusiasm for work, science, people, and data have been a source of energy and drive for students, staff, and faculty for over a decade. Jody has been on the Laboratory Employee Professional Development Network Team since it was created in 2001… the group provides learning opportunities for all staff on campus and also organizes a yearly vendor show. This demonstrates Jody’s willingness to help beyond the boundaries of the department or college. She interacts with any and all in the building and is a ‘go to’ person for anything related to chemistry. She is a ‘presence’ in any facility she works in.”
Dixie Watts Reaves, associate professor of agricultural and applied economics, received the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2008 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award at its annual convention. Reaves was recognized for her service to the college and to the agriculture industry, including her teaching and research efforts, as well as numerous leadership roles. Her main focus is to educate students, producers, and community members about the benefits of cooperative businesses. She currently serves as an advisor for the Virginia Council of Farmer Cooperatives, on the planning committee for the National Institute of Cooperative Education, and on the board of the Virginia Farm Bureau Marketing Association.
Scott Sink, instructor of agricultural and applied economics, was named to the American Farm Bureau Federation Federal Deficit Task Force. The committee is made up of eight representatives from around the U.S. Sink’s work focuses on small business management and entrepreneurship, and agricultural problem solving. He is also a local farmer with more than ten years of experience in the field, has earned numerous professional honors and awards, and has published numerous peer-reviewed works on sustainable agriculture and economic analysis.
Off campus:
Bonnie Appleton, professor of horticulture and Extension specialist, Hampton Roads AREC, was the recipient of the Gold Leaf Award from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. The award honored Appleton’s work creating a nursery and utility line arboretum in Danville. The arboretum features 32 overhead-utility-line compatible trees honoring the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings, while the nursery is designed for students at the W.W. Moore Detention Center to grow, harvest, and sell small trees.
The following Extension agents were honored with 2008 Virginia Cooperative Extension State Programming Excellence Awards:
- Interdisciplinary Program: Krista Gustafson, 4-H Extension agent; and Marilyn Morris, FCS Extension agent, both of Gloucester County – “The Reality Store at Peasley Middle School, Gloucester Develops Youth Financial Awareness”
- Program Marketing: Sherry Channell, 4-H Extension agent, Dinwiddie County – “Dinwiddie 4-H”
- Program Evaluation: Billie Jean Elmer, 4-H Extension agent, Surry County and Sherry Channell, 4-H Extension agent, Dinwiddie County – “Life Skills Development from a Junior 4-H Camping Program”
- New Initiatives: Martha Walker, Community Viability Extension specialist, Central District – “Innovative Leadership: Building Community Connections”
- Program Impact: Bill McCaleb, ANR program technician, Halifax County – “Halifax Master Gardeners Clean the Community One Bag at a Time”
- Unit ELC: Bob Jones, ANR Extension agent and Darla Marks, 4-H Extension agent, both of Charlotte County – “Extension Leadership Council Aids in Extension Office Renovation”