July 2009
Accolades
On campus:
Robert “Bobby” Grisso, professor and Extension specialist, biological systems engineering, was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The award was formally presented at the ASABE annual meeting in June. The rank of Fellow is given to ASABE members with at least 20 years of experience who have made significant contributions to the field. Grisso’s Extension programming focuses on improving pesticide application through sprayer calibration, improved tractor performance, and using precision technology to optimize farm machinery, safety, and productivity. He is also involved in interdisciplinary research on optimization of harvesting and handling operations of biomass for energy production. He has been the recipient of numerous awards from ASABE, including 21 Blue Ribbon Awards for Extension publications.
James McKenna, professor and interim department head, crop and soil environmental sciences, received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Distinguished Educator Award at their annual meeting in June. The award is the highest honor given by NACTA and is a lifetime recognition for service in teaching, research, and administration. McKenna has used online instruction to supplement his courses since the mid-1990s and has increased international collaboration on curriculum through participation in the Global Seminars programs at Virginia Tech. He has served NACTA in several roles as an elected officer and is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. McKenna has published 15 articles on curriculum development, 33 abstracts on teaching and learning, and given 10 national and international presentations on teaching and learning.
Dini Miller, associate professor, entomology, received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension from the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. The award recognizes regional, national, and international impacts of research and extension work. Miller was honored for her research and outreach in her role as the urban pest management specialist for Virginia. Her research focuses on bedbug control and prevention, with an emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM) and the reduction of indoor pesticide use in sensitive environments. She has given numerous presentations at national and international conferences and has worked with pest control associations, schools, and public housing to implement IPM techniques.
Dixie Reaves, associate professor, agricultural and applied economics, received the 2009 CALS Diversity Award. The award was established in 2006 to recognize outstanding diversity accomplishments of faculty, staff, and students in the college. Reaves helped co-found the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) chapter in 1995 and served as an advisor for nearly 10 years. She has been academic advisor to her department’s minority undergraduate students and a mentor to interns in the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP). She was recognized in 1996 by former Virginia Tech president Paul Torgersen for her recruiting efforts that doubled the number of underrepresented students and increased hiring of minority faculty members.
Ben Tracy, associate professor, and John Fike, associate professor, both of crop and soil environmental sciences, contributed to Grassland: Quietness and Strength for a new American Agriculture. The book is published by the American Society of Agronomy and is geared towards members of the agricultural community, students, the public, and policy makers. It discusses the history of grassland farming, the role and benefits of grass-based agriculture, and the importance of developing sustainable practices to maintain grasslands. More information is available at the American Society of Agronomy website.
Michael Weaver, professor, entomology, received the 2009 Andy Swiger Land-Grant Award. The award, made possible by an endowment established in honor of former Dean Andy Swiger, recognizes creative accomplishments that contribute to solving practical problems and enhancing production and profit in agriculture. Nominations come from faculty, staff, department heads, and members of the community. Weaver was recognized for his pesticide safety education programs, which directly impact more than 21,000 certified applicators and are recognized throughout the state and the nation for innovative use of information technology and distance education. He was the first in his field to develop an interactive, video-based training system, and one of the first to establish a website for the program. His efforts have resulted in more than $6 million in funding, including numerous awards from the USDA, EPA, and VDACS.
Robert Wright, Julian and Margaret Gary Professor, horticulture, received the 2009 CALS Award for Research Excellence, Applied Research. The award is presented annually to a college faculty member who has served for at least three years and recognizes exceptional achievement in mission-oriented research. Wright’s research focuses on container-grown plants, and he has developed fertilizer recommendations that are the foundation for most container-grown crops in the United States. Wright also developed and patented a growing medium made from ground pine trees, which can be produced at a fraction of the cost of conventional substrates. In addition, he has published 85 journal articles and given numerous presentations at industry meetings.
Off campus:
Rose Bradshaw, ANR Extension agent, Hanover County, was one of 10 participants selected for the American Farm Bureau’s Partners in Agricultural Leadership honors program. The national program is designed to strengthen leadership skills and increase knowledge of agricultural and public policy issues. Once the program is completed, participants are equipped to represent agriculture to the media, on speaking circuits, or in legislative activities. Bradshaw was nominated by the Virginia Farm Bureau and is a previous winner of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer Discussion Meet.
Paige Hogge, unit administrative assistant, Middlesex County, was the college’s Employee of the Month for June. Hogge was recognized for more than 17 years of dedication to her position, and her nominator said, “She takes great pride in her work, which is evident when other units call her for information and clarification of policies. She will go the extra mile to research and find answers to clients’ questions if agents are not available. She makes sure that all situations are handled efficiently and to the benefit of all. Paige takes it very personally to do her job to the best of her ability and to share her knowledge and techniques with others. She is recognized in the district and the state as a ‘go to’ person.”
Four Extension faculty members graduated from the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute. The program consists of six workshops held over the course of a year in locations throughout the state; it helps leaders in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors learn how to address community conflicts over environmental issues. The VCE faculty members who completed the program in June were:
- Jonah Fogel, CV Extension specialist, Northeast District
- John Ignosh, ANR Extension specialist, Northwest District
- Erin James, Extension water quality associate, biological systems engineering, Virginia Tech
- Michelle Prysby, ANR Extension specialist, Albemarle County