Tag Archives: Employee Recognition

From the Dean — May 2016

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Insights Editor
Alan Grant, dean

Alan Grant, dean

Greetings,

This is the time of the year when the university announces many faculty and staff members and students for the annual Awards of Excellence. Congratulations to those in CALS who are being honored:

  • Alex Niemiera, professor of horticulture and CALS assistant dean of student programs is receiving the 2016 William E. Wine Award for Teaching Excellence. The selection process includes nominations of candidates by students, faculty, and alumni in each college, and the selection of three faculty members across the university. Each Wine Award winner receives an automatic induction into the Academy of Teaching Excellence.
  • Nada Tamim, director of undergraduate programs for animal and poultry sciences is receiving the university’s Alumni Award of Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising. Established by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the award is presented by the Office of the Provost to a Virginia Tech faculty member who has been particularly effective and dedicated to undergraduate student advising. Recipients are nominated by colleagues or students and are selected by a committee of former award winners.
  • Ted Ellmore, retired programmer in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences is receiving the university’s 2016 Staff Career Achievement Award. Created to recognize retiring staff members, the award is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves through exemplary performance and service during their university careers.
  • David Close, consumer horticulture specialist and Virginia Cooperative Extension state master gardener coordinator, is receiving the 2016 Alumni Award for Excellence in Extension – Specialist Category. Sponsored by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the Alumni Award for Excellence in Extension is presented annually to two Virginia Cooperative Extension faculty members – one specialist and one agent – who have made outstanding contributions to the land-grant mission of the university.
  • Steven B. Hopkins, Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Orange County, Virginia, is receiving the 2016 Alumni Award for Excellence in Extension – Agent Category.

Over 160 CALS faculty and staff members with were honored recently at the University’s Service Recognition luncheon and dinner events. The events recognize employees who have served the university for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 or more years. We appreciate and thank everyone for their dedication over their many years with us.

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Dave Close receives alumni award for excellence in Extension

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Insights Editor

Dave CloseDavid Close, consumer horticulture specialist and Virginia Cooperative Extension state master gardener coordinator, has received the 2016 Alumni Award for Excellence in Extension.

Sponsored by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the Alumni Award for Excellence in Extension is presented annually to two Virginia Cooperative Extension faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the land-grant mission of the university. One award goes to an Extension specialist and the other is given to an Extension agent. Each award winner receives $2,000.

Since assuming the position in 2004, Close has developed several resources to improve the work the Extension master gardener can accomplish.

He worked directly with the Virginia Master Gardener Association  and the College of Agriculture and LIfe Sciences development office to establish the State Master Gardener Coordinator’s Endowment as a means to solve the persistent lack of stable funding for the state master gardener coordinator position. The endowment has a goal of $1 million and is currently at more than $500,000.

See the full story on Virginia Tech News.

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Congratulations to our VAAEA poster contest and communication award winners

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Insights Editor

We would like to congratulate our 2016 VAAEA poster contest and communications award state winners. We have remarkable work being conducted across the state, so let’s keep working hard to make Virginia Cooperative Extension a household name!

Poster contest winners:

  • Extension education: Central Virginia agriculture spotlight brings the farm to readers
    Author: Laura Siegle 
  • Applied research: Establishing FSMA water quality profiles
    Author: Theresa Long

Communication award winners:

  • Audio recording: Laura Siegle
  • Program promotional piece: Theresa Long
  • Personal column: Laura Siegle
  • Feature story: Laura Siegle
  • Video presentation: Laura Siegle
  • Fact sheet: Laura Siegle
  • Web page: Laura Siegle
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CSES roundup

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Insights Editor

Don’t miss this exciting news from the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences!

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David Dunaway – March Employee of the Month

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Insights Editor

Congratulations to the March Employee of the Month – David Dunaway! He is an agricultural technician at the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center.  

David Dunaway (left) receiving his Employee of the Month plaque from Robert Pitman, director of the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center

David Dunaway (left) receiving his Employee of the Month plaque from Robert Pitman, director of the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Dunaway’s nominators praised his work ethic noting that he “ has worked at the Eastern Virginia AREC for almost 17 years. During that time he has learned, grown, and taken on more duties at a higher level than he was originally hired for. He has assumed additional duties and responsibilities of a more complex and/or varied nature that include advising faculty and staff with regard to equipment needs, modifications, and safety; construction or modifications of research equipment; serving as a crew chief for harvesting operations; and assisting with training of summer wage employees.”

His equipment and machinery knowledge and expertise are sought and utilized by campus faculty who conduct research projects at Warsaw. In the spring of 2016, he learned to operate a new auto-steer system that was installed on one of the tractors in minimal time.

“During extremely busy times, we frequently find ourselves planting one crop and harvesting another simultaneously. Dunaway can be trusted to take charge of whatever task and/or team he is given for the day and keep things on track and rolling.” 

As the March Employee of the Month, Dunaway will receive a plaque, gifts from the college, will have his photo displayed in the case in Hutcheson Hall, and will be eligible for the 2015-16 Employee of the Year award.

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CALS Women’s Month panel highlights diversity of experiences

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Insights Editor

Who knew that Rebecca Cockrum used to work with elephants? Or that Holly Scoggins is a leading expert on hops in Virginia, and Elizabeth Gilbert spent a life-changing two years researching poultry science in Sweden?

CALS Women in Agriculture Panel

A dynamic group of leading women in the college composed a panel on Wednesday, March 23 in Fralin Auditorium. The event was held as part of Women’s Month, and the discussion was moderated by CALS Grants Coordinator Nancy Dudek. Panelists included:

Discussion topics ranged from the value that women bring to agriculture and life sciences to the importance of nurturing relationships with mentors throughout one’s career. Several panelists emphasized the need for women to receive equal pay for equal work, and the need to focus on letting an individual’s skill set, talents, and hard work – rather than their gender – ultimately matter in the workplace. Several of the panelists had a family history of farming. This background contributed to their interest in working with food, animal, and crop production in their careers, and shaped the values they hold today.  Ultimately, the discussion was rich with varied experiences and perspectives, and was inspiring to the audience of 50 people who attended.

This event was sponsored by the CALS Diversity Council.

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Mike Weaver receives 2016 Supervisor Spotlight award

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Insights Editor

Professor Michael Weaver is being recognized for his commitment to work-life harmony.

Weaver is the 2016 recipient of the Hokie Wellness Supervisor Spotlight Award.

In recognition for his commitment to work-life harmony, Michael Weaver is the 2016 recipient of the Hokie Wellness Supervisor Spotlight Award.

In recognition for his commitment to work-life harmony, Michael Weaver is the 2016 recipient of the Hokie Wellness Supervisor Spotlight Award. He is pictured here receiving his award with Susan Terwilliger (left) and Holly Gatton.

According to his colleagues, Weaver, a professor in the Department of Entomology and the director of Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs, recognizes the importance and unpredictability of family and the need for flexibility in the workplace.

“Dr. Weaver embodies an esprit de corps that motivates us all,” said Holly Gatton, project manager for the Department of Entomology.

Weaver is credited with mentoring employees as they pursue advanced degrees and supporting their work-life balance needs.

“I don’t think I do much more than anyone else to deserve recognition for my supervision. It is always a learning experience,” he said. “I just happen to be blessed with some super co-workers. They are supportive and quite easy to manage.”

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Ryan Stewart named Scholar of the Week

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Insights Editor

Ryan StewartThe Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation recognizes Ryan Stewart, an assistant professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, who works at the “critical zone” between water, soil, and plant communities.

His program at the Critical Zone Research Lab fosters collaboration across disciplines, with diverse researchers working on topics that span ecology, engineering, agriculture, and urban systems. The effort involves field work, laboratory analysis, and development of modeling frameworks to focus on quantifying and scaling interactions between water, soil, and plant communities.

Stewart is involved in a variety of research projects. Among them, he is interested in the effects of land-use changes on the movement, distribution, and quality of water, especially in areas where forests are being established or re-established.

Another research interest includes study of soil-water interactions in shrink-swell clay soils, including the changing hydraulic conductivity of soil matrix due to swelling and shrinking, the time-dependence of swelling, threshold behaviors in runoff and infiltration, and scaling of hydrologic processes.

In other areas, Stewart characterizes structural pathways caused by plants and soil aggregation by describing nutrient transport and preferential flow using parsimonious models, development of new soil parameters to use in infiltration and runoff modeling, and numerical modeling to better understand processes.

His lab also works to develop novel instruments and methods, including a new “resonating” rain gauge, instruments to monitor soil crack swelling dynamics, a new device to measure plot-scale runoff, and accelerometers to monitor environmental processes.

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CALS authors recognized at library event

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Insights Editor

On Feb. 29, University Libraries, in partnership with the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, and Virginia Tech’s Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, honored Virginia Tech authors’ academic contributions.

Books published in 2015 were on display, celebrating the authors in our community. There was also the opportunity to listen to remarks by the sponsors, and enjoy refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

We’d like to recognize the authors from our college whose works were on display at the event.

VT Author Department Title Year
Good, Deborah J. HNFE Practical metabolic nutrition: vitamins and minerals (library catalog) 2016
Mills, Bradford F. AAEC Safety nets in Africa: Effective mechanisms to reach the poor and most vulnerable 2015
Orden, David AAEC Trade-related agricultural policy analysis 2015
Barney, Jacob PPWS Bioenergy and Biological Invasions: Ecologica, Agronomic and policy perspectives on minimizing risk 2015
Alwang, Jeffrey AAEC Crop improvement, adoption and impact of improved varieties in food crops in sub-Saharan Africa 2015
Adelman, Zach Ento Genetic Control of malaria and dengue 2016
Welbaum, Greg Hort Vegetable production and practices 2015
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Shawn Askew and Jacob Barney recognized by Weed Science Society of America

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Insights Editor

The Weed Science Society of America has honored 30 individuals for their outstanding contributions to the field of weed science. The awards were presented during the organization’s annual meeting, held this year in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Our annual awards program recognizes the many outstanding scientists who are spearheading innovations and advancing the weed science profession through their research, teaching, publishing and outreach,” said Dallas Peterson, president of WSSA.

This year’s winners include two of our own faculty:

Congratulations!

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