University of Georgia
UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Department of Horticulture
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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 & SARE State Coordinator; Emphasis: Vegetable production
Horticulture Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program - Southern Region
tcoolong@uga.edu

Fruit/Nut Crops


Dario Chavez Associate Professor; Emphasis: Peach physiology & breeding
Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)
dchavez@uga.edu 770-229-3369
Rachel Itle Assistant Research Scientist; Emphasis: Fruit production & genetics
Horticulture
ritle@uga.edu 770-233-6113
Lenny Wells Professor & Pecan Extension Specialist; Emphasis: Pecans
Horticulture
lwells@uga.edu 229-386-7495

Vegetables


Timothy Coolong Professor & SARE State Coordinator; Emphasis: Vegetable production
Horticulture Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program - Southern Region
tcoolong@uga.edu
Angelos Deltsidis Assistant Professor & Post-harvest Extension Specialist; Emphasis: Post-harvest fruit & vegetables physiology
Horticulture
adeltsidis@uga.edu 229-386-7495
Ted McAvoy Assistant Professor & Vegetable Production Extension Specialist; Emphasis: Vegetable production
Horticulture
ted.mcavoy@uga.edu 229-386-3806

Ornamentals


David Berle Associate Professor & Undergraduate Coordinator; Emphasis: Urban & small farm organics, medicinal herbs
Horticulture
dberle@uga.edu
Mark Czarnota Associate Professor; Emphasis: Weed science & christmas trees
Horticulture
mac30@uga.edu 770-228-7398
Bodie V. Pennisi Professor; Emphasis: Commercial & sustainable landscape; pollinators
Horticulture
bpennisi@uga.edu 770-228-7243
John M. Ruter Allan M. Armitage Professor & UGA Trial Gardens Director; Emphasis: Ornamental breeding & production
Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)
ruter@uga.edu 706-542-9059
Ping Yu Assistant Professor, Ornamental Extension Specialist, GGIA & CANR Faculty Liaison; Emphasis: Nursery & greenhouse production
Horticulture
pingyu@uga.edu 770-233-5558

Master Gardener and Consumer Horticulture Programs


Sheri Dorn Senior Public Service Associate & State Master Gardener Coordinator; Emphasis: Consumer ornamentals
Horticulture
sdorn@uga.edu 770-228-7243
Bob Westerfield Senior Public Service Associate; Emphasis: Consumer fruits & vegetables
Horticulture
bwesterf@uga.edu 770-228-7243

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