Tifton Campus: Students: Faculty & Staff

John P. Beasley, Jr.

Office Phone: 229/386-3328
Email: jbeasley@uga.edu

Teaches:
CRSS 4300 - Crop Production and Management

Dr. Beasley maintains a 75% extension and 25% research appointment with a specialty in agronomic production of peanut. He is a member of the UGA Graduate Faculty. Dr. Beasley is active in the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES), Sigma Xi, and is the APRES representative to the Council for Agriculture, Science, and Technology (CAST).

Education:
Bachelors of Science in Agronomy and Soils, 1979, Auburn University
Master of Science in Agronomy (peanut breeding), 1981, Oklahoma State University
Ph.D. in Crop Science (cotton breeding and genetics), 1985, Louisiana State University

top

Craig W. Bednarz

Office Location: 102 NESPAL
Office Phone: 229/391-2513

Teaches:
CRSS 3300 Physiology of Crop Growth and Development

Dr. Bednarz maintains a 100% research appointment with a specialty in cotton physiology. Craig is a member of UGA Graduate Faculty, and the American Society of Agronomy.

Education:
B.S. in Agricultural Education, 1989, Texas Tech University
M.S. in Agronomy, 1991, Texas Tech University
Ph.D. in Crop Science (crop physiology), 1995, University of Arkansas

top

John K. Bernard

Office Location: Room 307, Animal and Dairy Science Building
Office Phone: 229/391-6856
E-mail: jbernard@uga.edu

Teaches:
Issues in Animal Science

Dr. Bernard maintains a 65% research, 35% extension appointment with a specialty in dairy nutrition and management. His research interest include utilization of alternative feeds and improving utilization of Southern forages. Dr. Bernard is active in the American Dairy Science Association, Southern Branch of American Dairy Science Association, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association. Prior to joining UGA, he taught numerous courses in nutrition, physiology, and dairy management at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Special Awards:
Who’s Who in Science and Engineering (2004)
Who’s Who in Agriculture Higher Education (2003)
Who's Who in the World (1996)
Who's Who Among America's Teachers (1995)
Who's Who in American Education (1993 and 1994)

Education:
B.S., Animal Science, The University of Tennessee
M.S., Dairy Science, The University of Georgia
Ph.D., Animal Science, The University of Georgia

top

Gary J. Burtle

Office Location: 205 Animal Science Building
Office Phone: 229/386-3364
E-mail: gburtle@uga.edu

Teaches:
ADSC 3660 - Aquaculture

Dr. Burtle is an Extension Aquaculture Specialist and maintains an applied research program as well as instruction for undergraduates. His area of emphasis is warm water aquaculture and involves fish and crustacean species of interest in the state of Georgia. These include catfish, freshwater prawn, bait fishes, grass carp, bream, largemouth bass, tilapia, crawfish, and marine shrimp. He has expertise in aquaculture nutrition, aquaculture system water quality, diseases of aquatic organisms, and aquatic plant management.

Special Awards:
Outstanding Service Award, Georgia Aquaculture Association (1999)
Creative Research Award, Tifton Chapter Sigma Xi (1988)

Education:
B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, 1975, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL.
Ph.D. in Aquaculture Nutrition, 1980, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.

Peng W. Chee

Office Phone: 229/386-7274
E-mail: pwchee@uga.edu

Dr. Chee maintains a 100% research appointment with a specialty in plant breeding and genetics. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of Agronomy, and the International Cotton Genome Initiative.

Juan C. Díaz-Pérez

Office Location: 148 Plant Science
Office Phone: 229/391-6861
E-mail: jcdiaz@uga.edu

Teaches:
Introduction to Vegetable Crops (Tifton)
Physiology of Vegetable Crops (Athens)

Dr. Díaz maintains a 100% research appointment with a specialty in vegetable crops. His research activity is directed toward cultural practices of vegetable crops; plasticulture and drip irrigation; environmental physiology; conservation tillage; organic vegetable production. Crop emphasis: Peppers, tomato, onion. Dr. Díaz is an active member of the American Society for Horticultural Science, American Society for Horticultural Science – Southern Region, American Society for Plasticulture, and Georgia Organics.

Special Awards:
Extension Publication Award (Blue Ribbon), American Society for Horticultural Science – Southern Region (2004)
Tifton Campus Award of Excellence for Junior Scientist (2003)

Education:
B.S. in Agricultural Sciences, 1984, University of Guadalajara, Mexico
M.S. in Plant Physiology, 1989, University of California at Davis
Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, 1994, University of California at Davis

top

Dennis Duncan

E-mail: dwd@uga.edu

Teaches:
EAGR 4340/6340 Developing Community Programs in Agriculture
EAGR 4350/6350 Curriculum Planning in Agriculture Education
EAGR 7460 Internship in Agricultural Education

Dr. Duncan is currently involved in the teaching and advising of undergraduates and graduate students in agricultural leadership, education and communication.

top

James D. Dutcher

Office Location: 120 Entomology Annex
Office Phone: 229/386-3567
E-mail: dutch88@uga.edu

Teaches:
Entomology 3740 Insect Pest Management

Dr. Dutcher maintains a research appointment with a specialty in tree fruit and nut crops. He conducts field and laboratory research on the biology and control of insects and mites that attack pecan trees, grape vines, and blueberries in Georgia. Dr. Dutcher is active in national and regional entomological associations and regional and state grower associations.

Special Awards:
Sigma Xi Senior Scientist Award (2003)

Education:
B.S. Interdepartmental Biology, 1972, Michigan State University
M.S. Entomology - Apple IPM, 1975, Michigan State University
Ph.D. Entomology - Grape IPM, 1978, University of Georgia

Renata Elad

Office Location: 113 Ag. Sciences (ABAC Campus)
Office Phone: 229/386-3509
E-mail: relad@abac.edu

Teaches:
AAEC 3100 Food and Fiber Marketing
AAEC 3890 Intro to Agribusiness Management

Dr. Renata Elad is an Associate Professor at ABAC.

Education:
B. Agric. (Crop Production), University of Jos, Nigeria
M.S. (Agricultural Economics), University of Georgia
Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics), University of Georgia

Timothy L. Grey

Office Location: Room 6, Weed Science Annex
Office Phone: 229/386-7239
E-mail: tgrey@uga.edu

Teaches: Weed Science (CRSS 4340)

Dr. Grey has been on faculty with the University of Georgia since 1999. His first appointment was at the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin and more recently with the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton since 2002 maintaining a 100% research appointment. His research efforts are associated with the chemical behavior, environmental fate, and soil behavior of pesticides. Specifically the herbicidal fate and residual activity in laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials, with analysis, evaluation, and assessment of herbicides used in row crop agriculture (cotton, peanuts, corn, etc.) and how these compounds can affect rotations to alternative and vegetable crops. Dr. Grey is an active member of the Weed Science Society of America, Southern Weed Science Society, and the International Weed Science Society.

Special Awards:
1998 Central Hardin High School FFA Honorary Chapter Degree, Hardin County Kentucky. For assistance to the chapter in judging high school student public speaking, written, and other contest.
1998 University of Kentucky Agriculture Outstanding Young Alumni 1998 Award for service and responsibility to the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture.

Invited international presentations and travel:
2004: International Weed Science Society, Durban South Africa
2003: International rapeseed Congress, Copenhagen Denmark
1998, 1999: Australia agriculture production regions

Education:
Bachelors of Science in Agronomy, 1982-1986, University of Kentucky
Master of Science in Agronomy, 1991-1992, Auburn University
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agronomy, 1994-1996, Auburn University

Glendon H. Harris, Jr.

Office Phone: 229/386-3006
E-mail: gharris@uga.edu

Teaches:
Soils and Hydrology

Dr. Harris maintains a 100% extension appointment with a specialty in environmental soil science. Glendon is active in several national societies and is Educational Advisor for the Georgia Plant Food Educational Society.

Ray Herren

E-mail: rherren@uga.edu

Dr. Herren has served on the faculty of Agricultural Education at the University of Georgia for the past 11 years. Dr. Herren has been quite active throughout his career. He has served on numerous committees at the local, state, regional, national and international level. Most recently he served on the national taskforce to develop FFA Programs for Middle school Agricultural Education Programs and the National Committee for Career Development Events. Dr. Herren has been actively involved with the National FFA Alumni, serving on the National Council and as National President. His scholarly productivity includes 26 journal articles, 41 invited or refereed presentations, and 4 books. He has several awards for service and holds the prestigious College of Education Outstanding Teaching award.

top

Gary M. Hill

Office Location: 4603 Research Way, Room 301
Office Phone: 229/386-3215
E-mail: gmhill@uga.edu

Teaches:
ADSC 4350 / 6350 Grazing Animal Production (Spring Semester)
ADSC 4450 Beef Cattle Production Technology (Fall Semester, Alternating years)

Dr. Hill has a 90% Research / 5% Instruction / 5% Public Service appointment with a specialty in Beef Cattle Nutrition and Forages. Dr. Hill has been a UGA Faculty member for 21 years. Dr. Hill conducts experiments with cow-calf herds (410 mature cows), replacement heifers, and stocker cattle (200/yr), evaluating new forages and management systems for beef producers in Georgia and the Southeast. He also conducts hay, grain and by-product feeding and digestion experiments with cattle. Dr. Hill directs graduate student thesis projects, he is a member of the UGA Graduate Faculty, he actively participates in the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) and Southern Section ASAS, presenting research papers in Annual Meetings of both organizations, consecutively, for the last 28 years.

Special Awards:
1999 Award of Excellence for Senior Scientist in Research, UGA-CAES, Tifton Campus
1999 Certificate of Recognition of Services as Associate Editor, Journal of Production Agriculture, by American Society of Agronomy, Crop Sci. Soc. Of America, Soil Sci. Society of America
2004 Certificate of Recognition of Services as Associate Editor, American Society of Agronomy

Education:
B.S. Animal Science, 1969, Clemson University
M.S. Animal Science, 1974, University of Kentucky
Ph.D. Animal Science, 1977, University of Kentucky

top

James E. Hook

Office Location: 104 NESPAL Bldg
Office Phone: 229/386-3182 or 386-7274
E-mail: jimhook@uga.edu

Teaches: Soils and Hydrology

Dr. Hook has been on faculty with the University of Georgia at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton since 1978. He has had a 100% research appointment but has taught Agronomy, Irrigation, and Microclimatology for UGA at Tifton, and well as Chemistry at ABAC. His research efforts are associated with management of soil and water for crop production and environmental protection. His work has included land application for reclamation of municipal wastewater and sludge, transport of nutrients and chemicals in various soils and sediments, and tillage and residue management in row crops. Much of his work in Georgia emphasizes irrigation management for efficient water use and optimum plant growth. During the past 8 years Dr. Hook has been involved with Georgia and southeastern water resource issues and serves on a number of statewide task forces as an irrigation specialist. Dr. Hook is an active member of the American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Irrigation Association, and the American Society of Agricultural Engineering.

Special Awards:
1999 Fellow, Soil Science Society of America
1996 Fellow, American Society of Agronomy
1996 U.S.D.A. Certificate of Appreciation for Innovations in the Assessment Process, NAPIAP
1995 Carter-Jones Award for Excellence in Research, Crop and Soil Sciences

Invited international presentations and travel:
1988 Irrigation and Drainage Studies. USSR. Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan

Education:
Bachelors of Science in Agronomy, 1965-1969, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
Master of Science in Agronomy, 1969-1971, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
Doctor of Philosophy in Agronomy, 1971-1975, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA (Minors study areas: Groundwater Hydrology, Geochemistry, and Sanitary Engineering)

top

William G. Hudson

Office Phone: 229/386-3424
E-mail: wghudson@uga.edu

Dr. Hudson maintains a 22% research, 78% extension appointment with a specialty in insect pests of turfgrass and horticultural crops, fish bait production, and identification of insect specimens. William has been active in entomological societies, and is a provisional member of UGA Graduate Faculty.

Craig Kvien

Office Location: 107 NESPAL
Office Phone: 229/386-7204
E-mail: ckvien@uga.edu

Teaches:
AESC 3920, AESC 4530, AESC 4960, CRSS 7000, CRSS 7300, and CRSS 8220

Dr. Kvien maintains a research appointment with a specialty in crop physiology and precision agriculture. Craig chairs the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture (NESPAL) unit, which focuses on ways to help agriculture improve both economically and environmentally. Along with housing UGA 4 year degree programs, NESPAL provides core services for programs in Water quality and use, biotechnology, K-12 outreach programs, value added agriculture, sustainable ag, and new technologies for agriculture. NESPAL has an emphasis on linking with industry to help Georgia commercialize the discoveries made in the unit.

Education:
Craig received his AS from Rock Valley Jr. College in Rockford IL (1970), BS in Agriculture from Western IL Univ. (1973), MS in Crop and Soil Sciences from Southern IL Univ. (1975), PhD in Microbiology and crop physiology from the Univ. of MN (1979) and completed a post-doctoral study in crop physiology at the University of Georgia in Athens (1982). He moved to Tifton in 1982 as an Assistant Professor in Crop Physiology.

David B. Langston, Jr.

Office Phone: 229/386-7495
E-mail: dlangston@uga.edu

Teaches:
PATH 4280/6280 – Diagnosis of Plant Diseases

Dr. Langston has a 100% extension appointment and manages extension responsibilities for disease management of all commercial vegetables statewide.

Education:
B.S. in Agronomy, 1990, N.C. State University
M. Ag. in Crop Science, 1995, N.C. State University
Ph.D in Plant Pathology, 1998, Virginia Tech

top

Elizabeth Little

E-mail: elittle@uga.edu

Teaches:
Introduction to Plant Pathology
Diagnosis and Management of Plant Disease

Dr. Little maintains a 50% instruction appointment with a specialty in plant pathology. She has pioneered efforts in her department to offer courses via distance education to students throughout the state, including Tifton.

Robert McPherson

Office Location: 126 Entomology Annex
Office Phone: 229/386-7141
E-mail: pherson@uga.edu

Teaches:
Team teaches ENTO 3740
Team teaches ENTO 4350

Dr. McPherson maintains a 90% Research and 10% Public Service appointment. Primary interests are in developing effective, efficient and environmentally sound management tactics for insect pests of soybeans and tobacco. Current projects include evaluating thrips management practices that suppress tomato spotted wilt virus invection in tobacco, thrips dynamics in the farmscape, soybean insect pest resistance, and impacts of transgenic soybeans on arthropod abundance and damage potential.

Special Awards:
Sigma Xi Tifton Campus Distinguished Service Award (2001)

Education:
B.S. (Biology major, Math minor), Sam Houston State University
M.S. (Entomology major, Experimental Statistics minor), 1975, Louisiana State University,
Ph.D. (Entomology major, Experimental Statistics minor), 1978, Louisiana State University

Peggy Ozias-Akins

Office Location: 116 NESPAL
Office Phone: 229/386-3902
E-mail: pozias@uga.edu

Teaches:
Agricultural Biotechnology HORT 4800

Dr. Ozias-Akins maintains a 95% research appointment with a specialty in molecular genetics and plant developmental biology. Dr. Ozias-Akins serves as an editor for Plant Cell Reports and In Vitro Plant, two journals that are internationally recognized in the area of plant cell and tissue culture. Dr. Ozias-Akins is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Society of Plant Biology (ASPB), the American Society for Horticultural Science (AAAS), the International Society of Plant Molecular Biology (ISPMB), the Society for InVitro Biology (SIVB) and the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES).

Education:
Dr. Ozias-Akins received a B.S. degree (1975) in Biology from Florida State University and a Ph.D. (1981) in Botany from the University of Florida. She spent 1.5 yr as an Alexander von Humboldt Post-doctoral Fellow at the Max- Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding in Cologne, Germany before joining the University of Georgia in 1986.

Jason B. Peake

Office Location: 116 TDC OFFICE
Office Phone: 229/386-3085
E-mail: jpeake@uga.edu

Dr. Peake is currently developing the Agricultural Education program on the Tifton Campus of The University of Georgia. He is involved in the teaching and advising of undergraduates and graduate students in agricultural leadership, education and communication. He advises the UGA Collegiate FFA and Alpha Tau Alpha Honorary Agricultural Education Fraternity.

top

Eric P. Prostko

Office Location: RDC Room 249
Office Phone: 229/386-3328
E-mail: eprostko@uga.edu

Teaches:
CRSS 4340 - Weed Science

Dr. Prostko has a 100% extension appointment and is responsible for conducting the statewide extension weed science programs for field corn, soybeans, peanuts, grain sorghum, sunflowers, and canola. He maintains an active field research program with the goal of providing Georgia farmers with practical and economical weed management strategies.

Special Awards:
In 2004, Dr. Prostko received the Michael J. Bader Award of Excellence for Junior Scientist - Extension on the Tifton Campus.

Education:
B.S. in Agronomy, 1986, Delaware Valley College
M.S. in Crop & Soil Science (Weed Science), 1988, Rutgers University
Ph.D. in Agronomy (Weed Science), 1997, Texas A&M University

Glen C. Rains

Office Phone: 229/386-3377
E-mail: grains@uga.edu

Teaches:
Principles of Sustainable Management

Dr. Rains maintains a 70% research, 30% extension appointment with a specialty in agricultural technologies that promote sustainable farm management. Glen worked in private industry as an engineer before joining UGA in 1998. He is active in the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE).

top

John Ricketts

E-mail: jcr@uga.edu

Dr. Ricketts started working for the University of Georgia in July 2003. Dr. Ricketts has served on committees for the improvement of teaching at national and international levels. He is a member of the Association of Career and Technical Education, the American Association for Agricultural Education, the North American Association of Colleges and Teachers in Agriculture, the Association of Leadership Educators and the Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association.

top

David G. Riley

Office Location: Room 109, Main Entomology Building
Office Phone: 229/386-3374
E-mail: dgr@uga.edu

Teaches:
ENTO 4350 Crop Specific Insect Management

Dr. David Riley maintains a Graduate Faculty appointment in the University of Georgia with a specialty in Vegetable Entomology. He has served on 13 graduate advisory committees (7 Masters, 6 Ph.D., total of 9 at UGA). Of the 13 committees, he has served as advisor or co-advisor for 9 of the students. Five of the students completed their degrees at Texas A&M, one MS and three PhD students have completed their programs at UGA. Three areas of science in which Dr. Riley has gained national and international recognition include plant - insect interactions (especially relating to the development of economic injury levels, economic thresholds, and evaluating host plant resistance), insect population dynamics, and the biological aspects of toxicology. Also, Dr. Riley has combined applied and basic scientific research to develop highly effective integrated pest management programs in vegetable production. Major achievements in research at Georgia in recent years focus on plant-insect-virus interactions of the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and its thrips vectors in tomato. Dr. Riley is currently very active in the Entomological Society of America, Tifton Chapter of Sigma Xi, and the Atlantic Coastline Artists’ Guild.

Special Awards:
1997 Award of Excellence for Junior Scientist at CAES - Tifton Campus
2002 Sigma Xi Creative Research Award - Tifton Campus

Education:
B.S. Agronomy, May 1981, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
M.S. Entomology, July 1986, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Ph.D. Entomology. May 1990, The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

top

Clay Roach

Office Phone: 229/386-3594
E-mail: croach@uga.edu

Teaches:
Computer Applications in Agriculture

Mr. Roach provides computer and network support for Tifton Campus. Local GSAMS teleconferencing coordinator. Works with the Distance Diagnostics through Digital Imaging project. He is an active member of CAES Staff Representation Group and a guest lecturer for Dean Broder's AGR 101.

top

John R. Ruberson

Office Phone: 229/386-7251
E-mail: ruberson@uga.edu

Teaches:
Biological Control of Pests

Dr. Ruberson maintains a 80% research, 20% extension appointment with a specialty in biological control of insect pests. John has been active in graduate education and several national societies, and is a member of UGA Graduate Faculty. He has co-taught ENTO 8820, Biological Control.

Don Shurley

Office Location: 120 RDC
Office Phone: 229/386-3512
E-mail: donshur@uga.edu

Teaches:
AAEC 3010- Farm Management and Organization

Dr. Shurley maintains a 70% Extension, 30% Research appointment with a specialty in cotton production economics, cotton marketing and risk management, and cotton policy (farm programs). Dr. Shurley's Extension and research programs are aimed at helping producers improve price, yield, fiber quality, and profitability. Dr. Shurley also works with cotton ginners and merchants.

Special Awards:
D.W. Brooks Award For Excellence in Extension (2003)
Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Extension Award (2005)

Education:
B.S. in Economics, Georgia Southern
M.S. in Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia
Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Purdue University

George Vellidis

Office Location: 133 Biological & Agricultural Engineering Building
Office Phone: 229/386-3912
E-mail: yiorgos@uga.edu

Teaches:
APTC 3030 – Principles of Precision Agriculture
APTC 3080 – Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Dr. Vellidis maintains a 78% research and 22% instruction appointment. Primary research interests are in measuring, modeling, and limiting environmental impacts of agricultural production systems. A second major research area is precision agriculture with an emphasis on developing yield monitoring technologies and techniques for peanuts, cotton, and specialty crops.

Special Awards:
2004 University of Georgia Tifton Campus Award of Excellence for Teaching
1997 Selected Young Engineer of the Year, Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers
1991 National Science Foundation Young Investigator

Education:
B.S. in Agricultural Engineering, 1983, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
M.S. in Agricultural Engineering, 1985, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, minor in Environmental Engineering, 1989, University of Florida

top