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

Timothy Coolong Professor, Extension Specialist, SARE State Coordinator; Emphasis: Vegetable production
Horticulture Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program - Southern Region

Fruit/Nut Crops


Dario Chavez Associate Professor
Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)
Rachel Itle Assistant Research Scientist; Emphasis: Fruit production & genetics
Horticulture
Lenny Wells Professor & Pecan Extension Specialist; Emphasis: Pecans
Horticulture
Sarah Lowder Assistant Professor, Viticulture Extension Specialist; Emphasis: Viticulture
Horticulture

Vegetables


Timothy Coolong Professor, Extension Specialist, SARE State Coordinator; Emphasis: Vegetable production
Horticulture Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program - Southern Region
Angelos Deltsidis Assistant Professor & Post-harvest Extension Specialist; Emphasis: Post-harvest fruit & vegetables physiology
Horticulture
Ted McAvoy Assistant Professor & Vegetable Production Extension Specialist; Emphasis: Vegetable production
Horticulture

Ornamentals


David Berle Associate Professor-retired rehire; Emphasis: Urban & small farm organics, medicinal herbs
Horticulture
Mark Czarnota Associate Professor
Horticulture
Bodie V. Pennisi Vincent J. Dooley Professor; Emphasis: Commercial & sustainable landscape; pollinators
Horticulture
John M. Ruter Allan M. Armitage Professor & UGA Trial Gardens Director; Emphasis: Ornamental breeding & production
Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)
Ping Yu Assistant Professor; Ornamental Extension Specialist; GGIA & CANR Faculty Liaison
Horticulture

Master Gardener and Consumer Horticulture Programs


Sheri Dorn Senior Public Service Associate & State Master Gardener Coordinator
Horticulture
Bob Westerfield Senior Public Service Associate
Horticulture

From Other Institutions

Dr. Tom Kon

  • Assistant Professor - Fruit Crops
  • 80% Research; 20% Extension
  • Commodity Assignment: Apples

 

Dr. David Lockwood

  • Extension Horticulturist - Fruit Crops
  • 25% Extension
  • Commodity Assignment: Apple production, wine grape production and Peach production (shared position with Tennessee and South Carolina)

 

Wayne Mitchem

  • Extension Horticulturist - Fruit Crops
  • 25% Extension
  • Commodity Assignment: Orchard floor weed management; apples, peaches, pecans, grapes