Please welcome Jeannie Benally(505-368-1028) our new Extension Program
Coordinator in Shiprock, New Mexico, effective November 17. This position
is
responsible for fostering and maintaining strong working relationships in
Agriculture, Natural Resources and 4-H Youth Development with the Navajo
Nation community in the Shiprock Agency.
CONGRATULATIONS:
The Extension Faculty of the year award is presented annually to an
individual who has been nominated by his or her peers for outstanding
performance, programs and impact. This nomination is made to a selection
committee comprised of the elected Head of the County Extension Directors,
elected head of the Department Heads and School Directors and a previous
Extension faculty of the year awards.
This year's winner was Dr. Mary Olsen. As you know, when Mary was hired as
an Associate Extension Specialist in Plant Pathology in 1997, (sh
previously worked for ERL Environmental Research Lab located at the
Airport)
she had to reestablish the campus extension program in Plant Pathology.
The
Disease Diagnosis Service had been inoperative since 1990 and most of the
other services provided by a campus-based Plant Pathology extension
program
had been neglected for a number of years. There were only a few
individuals
on campus with the expertise to help her with the multitude of services
expected of a contemporary extension program in Plant Pathology. Only
someone with her level of energy and dedication could have managed to
bring
this program to the professional level it now has.
What Mary has done in the last five years is to establish a disease
diagnosis clinic, which handled 500 samples last year, and established a
web
site, which gives a description of a methods for the control of 140
diseases
on 35 crops. This web site contains information on the common diseases of
field crops, fruit and nut trees, turf and ornamentals, vegetables, trees,
shrubs, vines and native plants. The diseases that affect each of these
plants are described with pictures and the individual descriptions are
often
cross referenced to additional sources of information on diagnosis and
treatment. Incorporated into the web site is the quarterly Plant Pathology
News Letter, which Mary started in 1998, and links to updated extension
bulletins on specific diseases in Arizona. If one compares this web site
to
those from other states, it is clear that the quality of Mary's site
exceeds
that of web sites offered by many of the other Plant Pathology Departments
in the US, many of which have greater resources.
To supplement the web site and newsletter, Mary has written 16 extension
bulletins and pamphlets. In addition, she has traveled the State giving 66
presentations to Master Gardeners,
7 to Advanced Master Gardeners, and 33 presentations at workshops and
grower
meetings. She also has given 11 training classes for health professionals
and developed and taught a one-unit course at the Maricopa Agricultural
Center. In addition, she frequently makes trips to the field to diagnose
problems. In her "spare time" she has participated in the submission of 19
funded grants to support her extension efforts, written 36 research
proposals, 18 of which were funded, and served on numerous College
Departmental committees.
One comment about Mary that is made often, either in support letters or
personal conversations, is Mary's skill as a team player and how well she
works with and responds to clientele and others in extension. Mary goes
beyond the basic responsibilities of her position and strives to build
good
working relationships with both peers and clientele. Her friendly outreach
efforts have helped not only to build good working teams, but goodwill
towards the University of Arizona and Cooperative Extension. Clearly her
ability to work with others and her professionalism are also recognized
outside the borders of Arizona is documented by election this summer as
President Elect of the Pacific division of the American Phytopathological
Society.
She has accomplished so much, everyone comments of what a great colleague
she is, for these and many, many more reasons that Dr. Mary Olsen was
named
the Extension Faculty of the Year award for 2003 at the Faculty/Staff
meeting November 12, 2003.
INVITATION
To all those interested in or who have been associated with the CEA
(Controlled Environment Agriculture) program. You are cordially invited to
attend the Fourth Annual Open-Greenhouse Celebration held Tuesday,
November
25, 12:00pm-3:00pm at CAC 1971 E. Roger Rd/Campbell Hydroponic Greenhouse.
Please RSVP by noon Wednesday, November 20 for lunch to Kathleen Crist at
ABE 520-621-3691 or kcrist@ag.arizona.edu . No reservations required for
taking a tour.