Inside IFAS July 2005
Welcome to the second online issue of the INSIDE IFAS faculty and staff newsletter, and please accept our apologies for getting this issue out late. Unexpected technical difficulties delayed production of the June issue for several weeks, so we’ve renamed it the July issue. We do plan to stay on a once-a-month production schedule, so look for the next issue in August.
On a related note, thanks to everyone who helped make our premiere online issue a success. We’ve gotten many compliments, and we’re confident you’ll find this resource more and more useful as time passes.
This issue marks the debut of two upgrades:
* We now have an INSIDE IFAS archives Web site, at http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/inside_ifas/index.htm. All previous online issues will be available there, beginning with the May 2005 issue.
* Each issue of INSIDE IFAS will now include a links section featuring other online UF/IFAS newsletters. If you produce an online newsletter and would like us to link to it, please contact us at insideifas@ifas.ufl.edu.
As always, we need your help to make this newsletter the voice of UF/IFAS faculty and staff. Please send brief news items to insideifas@ifas.ufl.edu , including all the essential information – who, what, when, where, why and how.
Produced by IFAS Communication Services, the online INSIDE IFAS is a work in progress, so please let us know if you have any suggestions for improvements. We look forward to hearing from you!
ONLINE STORIES
05.04.2005 Agricultural Research Published By UF/IFAS Ranks Among Top 20 Institutions Worldwide http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=400
05.09.2005 Donald Poucher Receives Top Award From American Distance Education Consortium http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=401
05.17.2005 Martin Main Receives National Wetlands Award For Education And Outreach http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=403
05.20.2005 Sandra Wilson To Receive NACTA Teacher Fellow Award June 17 http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=407
05.24.2005 Kenneth DeVries Named Assistant Vice President For UF/IFAS SHARE Development Program http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=408
06.03.2005 Mark McLellan Named UF/IFAS Dean For Research http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=413
06.07.2005 R. Kirby Barrick Named Dean Of UF/IFAS College Of Agricultural And Life Sciences http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/story.php?id=414
FEATURES
BALDWIN NAMED EXTENSION NORTHEAST DISTRICT DIRECTOR
University of Georgia agronomist John Baldwin has been named district director for UF/IFAS Extension’s Northeast District, a 17-county area that includes Alachua County. He began serving in the new position May 24 and will also hold the rank of professor in the UF/IFAS agronomy department.
Formerly a professor and extension agronomist in the University of Georgia’s crop and soil sciences department, Baldwin is a peanut expert. His background includes strong ties to UF – after receiving a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University in 1969, Baldwin received a master’s degree in animal science from UF in 1974 and a doctorate in agronomy from UF in 1985. Baldwin was also a graduate research assistant in UF’s animal sciences department in 1972-73, a UF/IFAS extension agent in 1973-75 and a UF/IFAS county extension director in 1975-87.
SALLY WILLIAMS, VAM YORK HONORED BY NORTH FLORIDA GIRL SCOUTS
UF/IFAS animal science expert Sally Williams and former UF interim First Lady Vermelle “Vam” Cardwell York have been honored by North Florida Girl Scouts with “Women Who Make a Difference” awards.
The awards, presented annually by the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, recognize North Florida women who have significantly contributed to the community in their personal and professional lives. Williams and York received the awards May 6 at a luncheon held at Savannah Grande Reception and Conference Center in Gainesville.
Williams is an associate professor with UF/IFAS’ animal sciences department, where she is one of four faculty leading the graduate-level meat science program.
A member of the UF/IFAS faculty since 1993, she is a 1993 McKnight Doctoral Fellow and a member of the UF/IFAS faculty group developing research and education programs for the Food Safety Institute of the Americas, an international effort to ensure food safety and security in the Western Hemisphere.
Williams’ professional affiliations include membership in the Institute of Food Technologists, Poultry Science Association, Southern Poultry Science Society, American Meat Science Association, Association of Black Faculty and Staff and Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society.
She serves as co-advisor for the UF/IFAS chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, and cluster leader for the UF Minority Mentor Program. She also mentors Gainesville-area middle-school girls through Delta Sigma Theta sorority’s Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy and volunteers as a judge for the Alachua Region Science and Engineering Fair.
Williams is coordinator of education programs and college ministry at Williams Temple Church of God in Christ and state coordinator of scholastic motivational ministries for the Churches of God in Christ.
A native of Pelham, Ga., Williams received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Albany State College in 1971, and master’s and doctoral degrees in food microbiology from UF in 1977 and 1993, respectively. Prior to joining the UF/IFAS faculty she worked for The American Bacteriological and Chemical Research Corporation in 1977-89.
York, a Gainesville resident since 1963, is best known to Floridians as interim first lady of the University of Florida in 1973-74.
Her husband of 58 years, E.T. York, served as UF interim president in 1973-74 and chancellor of Florida’s State University System in 1975-80. He also created UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, an umbrella organization comprising the university’s agricultural education, research and extension programs.
Vam York currently serves on administrative boards for the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Gainesville Community Foundation and the Trinity Methodist Church Finance Committee.
She is also a member of Rotary International, Altrusa International, Gainesville Women’s Forum, University Women’s Club, University Agricultural Wives, the Hospice Alliance, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Philanthropic Educational Organization, also known as the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
The Gainesville Community Playhouse recently named its new performance hall the Vam York Theater, in recognition of the Yorks’ ongoing support. It is scheduled to open in fall 2005.
A native of Evergreen, Ala., Vam York earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Auburn University in 1946. Involved in Gainesville real estate since the mid-1960s, York has served as president of two family-owned development firms, Tralisa Corporation, which built the Kenwood and Valwood neighborhoods, and Caret Corporation, which built the Mentone neighborhood.
NEW ARRIVALS AT UF/IFAS
Personnel recently joining the UF/IFAS family include –
EXTENSION – Michelle Adamski (Wakulla County extension), Fitzroy Beckford (Lee County extension), Wendy Burton (Bradford County extension), Stephanie Dragon (Duval County extension), Julie England (Lake County extension), Corstiana Heykoop (Columbia County extension), Susan Kelly (Sumter County extension), Robert Kluson (Sarasota County extension), Donald Rainey (Sarasota County extension), Geralyn Sachs (St. Johns County extension), Sylvia Shives (Manatee County extension).
FACULTY – Damien Adams (food and resource economics), Susan Boehlein (horticultural sciences), Greg Kiker (agricultural and biological engineering), William Pine III (fisheries and aquatic sciences), Jose Reyes (Citrus REC), Max Teplitcski (soil and water science).
OTHER – Jennifer Drew (microbiology and cell science).
PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS
In May, Jimmy Rich (nematology) gave two presentations on nematode management in tomatoes and ornamentals at the annual Philippine Phytopathological Society meeting in Cabanatuan, Philippines. Rich also helped create the society’s first Web site, www.philphytopath.org, and was awarded a plaque of appreciation for his efforts.
Plant pathologists from around the state gathered at UF/IFAS’ Mid-Florida REC – Apopka for the 9th Biennial Meeting of the Florida Phytopathological Society May 2-4, and UF/IFAS personnel were prominent at every level.
An opening general session included invited speakers who discussed topics ranging from aerobiology to astrobiology: Andrew Schuerger (Space Sciences Laboratory, Kennedy Space Center) presented “Microbial Ecology, Survival and Growth of Terrestrial Bacteria on Spacecraft Surfaces During Robotic Missions to Mars” and X. B. Yang (Iowa State University) presented an “Update on the Status of Soybean Rust.”
UF/IFAS faculty chaired the paper presentation sessions: Bacterial diseases was chaired by Dave Norman (Mid-Florida REC – Apopka); fungal diseases was chaired by Phil Harmon (plant pathology); two sessions on viruses and virus-like diseases were chaired by Dennis Lewandowski (Citrus REC) and Scott Adkins (USDA); and biological and chemical control was chaired by Richard Raid (Everglades REC).
The graduate student research paper competition, moderated by Carol Stiles (plant pathology), drew 10 entries, all from UF/IFAS. First place went to Matthew Brecht for “Ecology and Pathogenicity of Bipolaris and Curvularia spp. on Bermudagrass Putting Greens in Florida.” Adriana Castañeda took second place for “Functional Analysis of avr Homologues Found in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris Strain 528T.” Third place went to Wayne Jurick for “Cloning and Analysis of an Adenylate Cyclase Gene (SAC1) from the Wide Host Range Necrotroph Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.”
Lavern “Pete” Timmer (Citrus REC) received a Service Award for his contributions to the society, and Tom Kucharek (plant pathology) received a Career Achievement Award recognizing more than 30 years of accomplishments.
The meeting was organized by Lawrence Datnoff (plant pathology), Don Hopkins (Mid-Florida REC – Apopka) and Erin Rosskopf (USDA-ARS).
James Cuda (entomology) and one of his graduate students, Frank Wessels, attended the 20th Annual Symposium of the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council in Key West May 9-11. They co-authored a presentation for the meeting, “Biology and Host Specificity of Tectococcus ovatus, a Potential Biological Control Agent for Strawberry Guava, Psidium cattleianum, in Florida.” At the board of directors meeting, Cuda presented an annual report from the Brazilian Peppertree Task Force, a working group he chairs.
Wessels was honored at the 118th annual meeting of the Florida State Horticultural Society in Tampa June 5-7. He won first place in the Student Paper Award Competition for a PowerPoint presentation he co-authored with Cuda, “A Novel Form of Caribbean Fruit Fly (Tephritidae) Suppression: Classical Biological Control of the Preferred Host Psidium cattleianum (Myrtaceae).”
Another Cuda graduate student, Onour Moeri, was invited to participate in the International Conference on Area-Wide Control of Insect Pests, held in Vienna, Austria May 9-13. Moeri delivered PowerPoint and poster presentations on her master’s thesis research project, “Application of the F1 Sterile Insect Technique (F1SIT) for Field Host Range Testing of the Tortricid Episimus utilis, a Candidate for Classical Biological Control of Brazilian Peppertree in Florida.”
Cuda and William Overholt (Indian River REC) were recently awarded $25,349 from the Southern Region IPM Center Enhancement Grants Program to develop and test an integrated management plan for Brazilian peppertree.
LINKS TO OTHER UF/IFAS NEWSLETTERS
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department Newsletter – http://www.agen.ufl.edu/newsite/mainpages/Newsletter/NewsletterSpring05.pdf
Animal Science Newsletter – http://www.animal.ufl.edu/extension/beef/content/newsletter/July2005/July2005.pdf
Berry/Vegetable Times – http://strawberry.ifas.ufl.edu/BerryTimes/BVTMay05.html
Citrus Leaves – http://www.lal.ufl.edu/Documents/JuneLeaves2005.pdf
Entomology and Nematology Newsletter – http://entnews.ifas.ufl.edu/2004-2005/jun05.htm
Environmental Horticulture News – http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletter/fallwinter2004.pdf
Extension Comings and Goings – http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/Comings%20and%20Goings/EXTCG%200605.doc
Florida Master Naturalist Program Newsletter – http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/newslttr/vol5_no2.pdf
FreDispatch – http://www.fred.ifas.ufl.edu/fredispatch05.pdf
GreenNotes – http://dpm.ifas.ufl.edu/GreenNotes/greennotesfall2004.html
Gulf Coast REC Balm – http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/July05a.htm
International FOCUS – http://international.ifas.ufl.edu/focusweb/focusmay05001.htm
Microbiology and Cell Science News – http://microcell.ufl.edu/Newsletter.pdf
Myakka – http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/department/newsletters/spring05.pdf
News from MREC – http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/News/news.htm
NFREC News – http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/Newsletters/Archive2005/Newsletter_07_05_05.pdf
Safety News & Notes (available on the Florida AgSafe Web site, click on “Safety News & Notes” in the column on the left side of the home page) – http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu
SWFREC Update – http://www.imok.ufl.edu/newsletter/SU_vol1no2.pdf
UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center News – http://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/Publica/Recent/EREC%20Newsletter%20Spring%2005pdf.pdf
Thanks, and we’ll see you next month!
