Browse Faculty Stories

Renowned ecologist and science communicator Sonia Altizer has been named head of the University of Georgia Department of Entomology, bringing a collaborative vision and decades of research and public outreach experience to the role. A longtime UGA faculty member, Altizer is focused on honoring the department’s strong legacy while advancing innovation, interdisciplinary research and community engagement through Extension.

Multifaceted research on the social and environmental impacts of diversified agriculture from institutions around the world, including the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been named one of three International Frontiers Planet Prize winners. An initiative of the Frontiers Research Foundation, the Frontiers Planet Prize recognizes transformational research that shows the greatest potential to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges.

Ten weeks into his tenure as associate dean for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Michael Toews’ focus has remained steadfast: UGA Extension is about people and trust. Toews is kicking off his new role with a listening tour across the state as he expands his vision for UGA Extension with an emphasis on serving Georgia’s diverse population — both urban and rural.

University of Georgia Center for Food Safety researcher Issmat Kassem has dedicated nearly two decades to studying antimicrobial resistance, identified by the World Health Organization as a top-10 public health threat to humanity. Kassem was recently recognized as a ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholar for his research studying antimicrobial resistance in water and food. Hear directly from Kassem in this Q&A about his work to protect public health from this ongoing threat.

As the academic year winds down, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is preparing for its spring 2025 convocation, to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Classic Center in Athens. “Convocation presents a unique opportunity for students to reflect on all they have achieved during their college careers,” said CAES Dean and Director Nick Place.

William “Bill” D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been elected as Fellow for the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Branch is the 17th UGA faculty member to receive this honor, which recognizes inventors whose innovations have had a significant impact on society, economic development and quality of life.

Krysta Harden, former United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and current president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, will be the speaker for the 2024 D.W. Brooks Lecture and Awards, an annual event hosted by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. From her parents’ farm in Camilla, Georgia, all the way to Capitol Hill, Harden has been a strong advocate for agriculture.

For Yangxuan Liu, her career as an associate professor of agricultural and applied economics feels like equal parts coincidence and fate. “I was initially involved in agriculture because of my family farm in China. During breaks from school as a child, I would go visit my grandparents and work in their fields where they grow corn, wheat, cotton and other crops. This really gave me respect for the value of working the ground,” Liu said.

Accomplished 4-H youth and the adults who empower them gathered at the 81st Georgia 4-H State Congress in Atlanta July 23-26. The weeklong event for top 4-H’ers features state-level Project Achievement and Leadership in Action competitions and recognizes youth development professionals and community supporters contributing to the success of 4-H in Georgia. More than 200 youth delegates competed in 50 Project Achievement areas and eight youth delegates competed in the Leadership in Action contest during annual event.

For Joseph McHugh, a career as an entomologist was never in question: He became fascinated by insects and their diversity in grade school and his passion never wavered. This year, his internationally recognized leadership in the field he loves was rewarded as he was named the Herbert H. and Jean A. Ross Memorial Distinguished Professor of Insect Systematics and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.