People often use websites as their first step when researching something new and learning ways to improve their lives. By making websites and extension materials accessible, we help make this information available to more people – including people with visual, hearing, physical and cognitive impairments. 

Consciously designing for accessibility has benefits beyond the people who use assistive technology. It makes websites simpler to navigate and information easier to understand for everyone. 

As you know, ANR is transitioning its website to become an even better resource for our participants, partners and the general public. Making the new website and its information accessible will require everyone to pitch in, but it'll be worth it because we'll be demonstrating our commitment to making a positive difference for all Californians.

The DEI Alliance Learning Committee suggests watching this video to learn more about making websites accessible: https://youtu.be/o2vDmDGlRz8.

About 15% of people in the world live with a disability, according to the World Health Organization. That’s 1 million people who may not be able to use websites unless they are made accessible.

UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center’s administration building is now named “John E. Pehrson Hall” to honor Pehrson’s contributions to the citrus industry.

It's been 30 years since John Pehrson retired as a University of California Cooperative Extension citrus specialist, but he left such a lasting impression on the citrus industry that his work is still revered today. Regarded as a model Cooperative Extension advisor, Pehrson was gifted at translating UC research and offering practical solutions to help growers better manage their resources and improve citrus yields during his 38-year UC career.

Pehrson is an “encyclopedia of practical and scientific knowledge about citrus,” said Beth Grafton-Cardwell, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension citrus specialist and a former colleague of Pehrson. “He developed expertise not only in soils, but also rootstocks, citrus fertility, irrigation and entomology.”

To honor Pehrson's contributions to the citrus industry, growers and associated industry members gathered at the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center on Oct. 16 to dedicate the center's administration building as “John E.Pehrson Hall.”

Pehrson shows dwarf citrus trees at Lindcove Research and Extension Center, where he worked from 1982 until his retirement in 1991.

Always eager to work

The 94-year-old Pehrson, who attended the event with his proud family, said he was always eager to go to work as a UCCE citrus advisor and specialist, “and I want you all to know that I appreciated the help I had in both the University community and with the industry, and with you growers that are here tonight to recognize me.”  

Pehrson joined UC Cooperative Extension as a farmadvisor in 1953 for Orange County, moved toUCCE inTulare County as a citrusadvisor in 1966, then became aUCCE subtropical horticultural specialist at Kearney Research and Extension Center in 1980, and transferred in 1982 toLindcoveREC, where he worked until his retirement in 1991. 

"I've never known anyone in the industry that was as dedicated as John Pehrson,” said grower Tom Dungan.

“I think of Lindcove and ag extension, and all of us who are lucky enough to be in this industry for all these years, you have to think of John Pehrson, because he was such a big part of our success as growers,” said citrus grower Tom Dungan. “When you walked the orchard with John, and I did often, I had all kinds of problems…by the time you were finished walking the orchard, you not only had the original problem that you were trying to solve, but you had about seven others and he wasn't afraid to tell you how to solve them. And sometimes you didn't want to hear that.”

“He loved to come out and help you with your problems, talk about a dedicated guy, I've never known anyone in the industry that was as dedicated as John Pehrson,” Dungan said.

In 1994, the California Citrus Quality Council presented Pehrson with the industry's most prestigious prize, the Albert G. Salter Memorial Award. 

“John was an excellent farm advisor and horticultural specialist because he would study the groves, study the literature, run experiments in the San Joaquin Valley and collaborate with other researchers,” said Grafton-Cardwell. “But he also highly respected the practical knowledge of the growers and worked with early adapters of new technologies, helping to advance them.”

John E. Pehrson, center, poses with his proud children. From left, Linda Pehrson, David Pehrson, Karen Grace, Julie Pehrson and John R. Pehrson outside the building named for him.

Mentoring colleagues

In addition to growers, Pehrson's UC ANR colleagues also benefited from his knowledge and concern for the industry, Grafton-Cardwell said. “I was one of them, as I came on board in 1990 a year before John retired. John saw that I was new to citrus and took me under his wing and said, ‘Let's conduct a field experiment.'”

“It was a simple experiment looking at the impact of several weights of oil on pest and beneficial mite densities,” she said. “But I appreciate that he took the time to give me guidance on the best way to conduct a citrus trial and gave me confidence in field work that I then carried on with for the next 30 years.”

When Lindcove Research and Extension Center started a fundraising campaign, several donors identified the building dedication as an opportunity to support research while also paying tribute to Pehrson, said Grafton-Cardwell, a past director of the center.

“I am honored to have my work recognized in this fashion,” said Pehrson, who currently resides in Claremont in Southern California. “I wish to say that I enjoyed my life as a farm advisor, I really did. I would call it a life of purpose.”

Vice President Glenda Humiston thanked guests for raising over $100,000 to name the building “John E. Pehrson Hall,” saying, “By honoring John and recognizing his accomplishments, you have also invested in supporting the next generation of researchers, allowing us to continue to explore, experiment and develop practical solutions through applied research.”

All of the gifts benefit Lindcove's fundraising campaign, Sweetening the Future of Citrus at Lindcove. 

Pehrson's grandchildren joined him to celebrate the naming of building to honor his contributions to the citrus industry. From left, Jillian Pehrson, Pedro Preciat, Jessica Pehrson-Preciat, John E. Pehrson, Erik Pehrson and Dylan Pehrson.

The countdown has begun...GivingTuesday is just four weeks away. Mark your calendars for November 30. We know how important this giving day is to raising support for your work. To get started, register your participation in ANR's GivingTuesday campaign before Nov. 1 at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=35934.

GivingTuesday is a global movement inspiring millions of donors to give to thousands of non-profits worldwide in just 24 hours. 

In 2020, UC ANR raised nearly $200,000 in online donations benefiting participating programs, research and endowments across the state.

If you missed the webinar, “GivingTuesday: Strategies for Success” on Oct. 27, you can view the recording at https://ucanr.zoom.us/rec/share/vCJOXd_hfIrQDZLKAPwdkpShtnOymfS1Sr2MxF0IZl1_ttCU0LppTsw5tVMiQz7F.mfASDaqmmJGbdTgm (Passcode: !Lb&i!4N). Emily Delk, director of annual giving and donor stewardship, shares campaign resources and announces exciting new incentives.

For more information or to subscribe to Delk's newsletter about preparations for GivingTuesday, please contact her at eddelk@ucanr.edu or (916) 564-4862.

UC Cooperative Extension specialists based at UC Davis and UC Riverside can now identify themselves as a “Professor of Cooperative Extension” as well as UCCE specialist. Adoption of the new working title is underway at UC Berkeley.

“Note this is not a title change,” said Selina Wang, co-chair of the UC Davis Specialist Advisory Committee, who explained the working title Professor of Cooperative Extension is more familiar to people outside of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“The addition of a working title for CE Specialists has many positive impacts as it aligns with our role of someone who professes their skills and instructs others,” Wang said. “We are grateful for the enthusiastic and widespread support from the leaderships, committees and individuals at UC Davis. We also thank those who have paved the way for realizing this vision – the title of Emeritus Professor of Cooperative Extension applies to CE Specialists who are currently approved for emeritus status.” 

In documents submitted to the Academic Senate at UC Davis by Wang and Vikram Koundinya, her co-chair on the UC Davis Specialist Advisory Committee, they state, “The title ‘Specialist in Cooperative Extension' or ‘Cooperative Extension Specialist' is not universally recognized or commonly used outside of the land-grant system in California or internationally, while the title ‘Professor' has widespread recognition. Similar to those in the professorial series, Specialists in CE have been integrated into the research, graduate education, service, and outreach missions of the departments, though teaching of regular undergraduate or graduate courses is not a required responsibility. In every state except California and Mississippi, individuals holding the title Specialist in CE can also hold the title Professor.” 

UCCE specialists at UC Riverside were informed in June 2020 of their new working title, which was shepherded through the process by UCR Professor Tim Paine, when he was divisional dean for the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

“We are, and always have been faculty, but not senate faculty. This is the main difference between University of California CE Specialists and the rest of the United States,” said Peggy Mauk, director of UCR Agricultural Operations and UCCE specialist. 

Mary Lu Arpaia, UC Cooperative Extension specialist based at UC Riverside, is pleased the UCR Academic Senate approved the title.

“I think it is a critical first step for putting extension specialists on equal footing with tenured faculty,” Arpaia said. “In many other land-grant universities in the U.S., extension specialists are considered full faculty and gain true tenure. This is what we should strive for within the UC system. Kudos for our administrative staff at UCR for making this first step and being the first in the UC system to recognize extension specialists. Hopefully the next steps occur within the UC system in a timely manner.”

UCCE specialists located at UC Merced, UC Santa Cruz and UC Santa Barbara, which are not part of the Agricultural Experiment Station, are based in UC ANR, and will have to wait to use the professor title. For campus-based specialists, the title must be approved by the local academic senate. Because UC ANR doesn't have an academic senate, they will have to find a different administrative path, according to Wendy Powers, associate vice president.

“It would be great if everyone can use the same title; the CE Specialist title was already too confusing for folks and it would not help if we start using two different titles,” said Safeeq Khan, assistant UC Cooperative Extension specialist at UC Merced.