Extension Faculty
Extension faculty within the Department of Horticulture work in Athens, Tifton and Griffin. Faculty are located at these sites to be in close proximity to the industries and commodity groups with which they work.
Extension Coordinator
Bob Westerfield
Senior Public Service Associate; Areas of Interest: Consumer fruits and vegetables
Horticulture
Fruit/Nut Crops
Dario Chavez
Associate Professor; Areas of Interest: Peaches
Horticulture
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)
Rachel Itle
Assistant Research Scientist; Area of Interest: Fruit Production and Genetics
Horticulture
D. Scott NeSmith
Professor; Areas of Interest: Blueberries
Horticulture
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)
Vegetable Crops
Ornamentals
David Berle
Associate Professor; Areas of Interest: Sustainable food systems, landscape design
Horticulture
Matthew Chappell
Professor; Areas of Interest: Nursery production
Horticulture
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)
John M. Ruter
Allan M. Armitage Professor and Director, Trial Gardens at UGA; Areas of Interest: Ornamental Breeding and Production
Horticulture
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)
Master Gardener and Consumer Horticulture Programs
Sheri Dorn
Public Service Associate and State Master Gardener Coordinator; Area: Consumer Ornamentals
Horticulture
Bob Westerfield
Senior Public Service Associate; Areas of Interest: Consumer fruits and vegetables
Horticulture
From Other Institutions
- Assistant Professor - Fruit Crops
- 80% Research; 20% Extension
- Commodity Assignment: Apples
- Extension Horticulturist - Fruit Crops
- 25% Extension
- Commodity Assignment: Apple production, wine grape production and Peach production (shared position with Tennessee and South Carolina)
- Extension Horticulturist - Fruit Crops
- 25% Extension
- Commodity Assignment: Orchard floor weed management; apples, peaches, pecans, grapes