- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
We are pleased to announce and congratulate the recipients of the 2024 Distinguished Service Awards.
Sponsored by UC ANR and Academic Assembly Council, the Distinguished Service Awards recognize service and academic excellence in UC Cooperative Extension over a significant period of time. The awards highlight the use of innovative methods and the integration of research, extension and leadership by UC ANR academics.
Award categories include outstanding research, outstanding extension, outstanding new academic, outstanding team, outstanding leader and contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Outstanding Research - Brent Holtz
Brent Holtz has served as a UC Cooperative Extension orchard systems farm advisor for 30 years, including 15 years concurrently serving as the UCCE director for San Joaquin County. His groundbreaking work in whole orchard recycling has revolutionized orchard system management in the valley, influencing state policy and fostering collaboration across local, statewide and international levels.
Leveraging the trust of numerous growers, he has spearheaded multiple orchard recycling trial sites throughout the Central Valley, across various soil types and climates, to improve the understanding of its impact on soil health and crop productivity. Holtz's research program, supported by several grants from commodity boards and governmental agencies, has garnered widespread recognition for its environmental and economic significance in almond orchards. His prolific research output, comprising 90 peer-reviewed publications, coupled with over 500 extension articles, technical reports and abstracts, underscores the profound impact of his research.
His outreach efforts, including extension meetings, webinars and a comprehensive project website, exemplify his dedication to knowledge dissemination. Moreover, Holtz's expertise in orchard recycling extends far beyond state borders. His numerous national and international awards attest to his remarkable contributions, cementing his status as a pioneer in orchard recycling and global authority. Holtz's success serves as a testament to the impactful research achievable through UC ANR, showcasing the vital role of applied research in agricultural innovation.
Outstanding Extension - Roger Duncan
Roger Duncan, UCCE pomology farm advisor in Stanislaus County, has been an advisor for nearly 30 years. In that time, Duncan has conducted a thorough program that exemplifies the research-extension continuum with applied research programs feeding a multifaceted extension program using face-to-face meetings, popular press/newsletters and peer-reviewed, grower-accessible documents. Highlights of Duncan's extension work include his Tree & Vine Breakfast Meetings, a rootstock comparison publication (with UC ANR co-authors), a video showing a rootstock trial and describing the results (with the Almond Board of California, on YouTube), and an interactive rootstock comparison webpage. Taken together, these projects have contributed to the adoption of orchard practices leading to increased productivity and economic value in California's almond orchard systems. Duncan's achievements serve as a major example of an outstanding extension program.
Outstanding New Academic - Zheng Wang and Leslie Roche
While the award is usually presented to an individual, the program committee determined two people were equally deserving of the Outstanding New Academic Award.
Zheng Wang, who became a UCCE vegetable crop advisor for Stanislaus County in 2018, has made remarkable contributions to vegetable agriculture. His work in vegetable grafting, precision irrigation tools and integrated pest management has measurable impacts on the industry. In one of Wang's projects, growers reported that their successfully grafted watermelon plants produced 15% to 25% more watermelons than nongrafted fields per acre, while using 30% fewer plants and the same amount of water and fertilizers.
Within a relatively short span, he has authored seven peer-reviewed publications, numerous non-peer-reviewed articles and successfully secured over $600,000 in program funding.
Beyond his academic achievements, Wang has been recognized by clientele, colleagues and industry for his innovative extension and outreach program. In 2022, he was recognized by Vegetable Grower News as one of Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40, outstanding individuals under age 40, for demonstrating leadership and propelling the industry forward. Additionally, Wang's program has been serving underrepresented and new growers efficiently, demonstrating his commitment to inclusive agricultural practices.
Leslie Roche, who became a UCCE range management specialist based at UC Davis in 2015, represents UC ANR very well through a program characterized by exemplary academic innovation and leadership. Her statewide impact resonates with the core objectives of UC ANR, representing the organization's commitment at its finest. She is a vital bridge between UC ANR academics, stakeholders and policymakers at local, state and national levels. Roche provides invaluable insights to policymakers, contributes to USDA climate vulnerability assessments, and contributes to UCCE drought-planning tools through extensive engagement with California ranchers (e.g. over 600 surveys and interviews).
Roche 's dedication extends beyond traditional outreach methods. She employs creative extension activities to interact with stakeholders and clientele, leveraging platforms such as webinars and YouTube videos, and leading the innovative development of the Rangeland Research and Information Center (RIC) to reach broader audiences. She has shown excellence in all aspects of Cooperative Extension.
Outstanding Team - “Growing the Valley” team
Since 2018, Phoebe Gordon, UCCE orchard crops farm advisor for Madera and Merced counties, and Luke Milliron, UCCE orchard systems advisor for Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties, have used modern communication tools and pioneered new ways to extend UC ANR outreach and education. Together they have produced over 220 “Growing the Valley”podcasts, reaching thousands of listeners throughout the world with a documented impact on knowledge and practices. The team has effectively used podcasts to break boundaries – both geographical and topical – interviewing a broad range of experts on agricultural topics including pests and diseases, irrigation, fertilization and horticulture, among many other subjects.
The work and impact accomplished by this ANR team has gone far beyond one individual or clientele. As one of the support letter writers described it, “The novel approach to outreach through the podcast medium allows for convenient learning opportunities for a large and diverse audience. Over the years, the collection of episodes has grown into an exhaustive resource of information, highlighting topics that are important to the agricultural community. The indexed and easily discoverable format ensures that their efforts have a broad and lasting impact, reaching stakeholders far beyond traditional extension channels.”
These interviews have forged relationships that otherwise would not have been possible. The committee also acknowledged the team's dedication and commitment in sustaining this effort for the agriculture community and academics. A second letter of support said, “[Growing the Valley Podcast] is a testament to Luke Milliron and Phoebe Gordon's dedication and creativity in providing a significant educational resource within the agricultural community.”
Outstanding Leader - David Lile
David Lile, UCCE director for Lassen County and natural resources and livestock advisor, is a distinguished leader and visionary in UC ANR.
Lile has demonstrated critical leadership in tapping the full power of the UC to unite campus faculty, specialists, county advisors, students and stakeholders to conduct novel, participatory research that has advanced applied science and informed policy development and management. He goes the extra mile to support and coach students, creating innovative learning and growth opportunities for these new scientists and educators. He has been instrumental in the success of over a dozen graduate students, who have conducted all or portions of their graduate research in Lassen County. He has also mentored early-career research assistants and academics giving them a solid foundation in UCCE.
Lile has had a dedicated track record of leadership at all UC ANR levels during his career. He has served on the Peer Review Committee, Academic Assembly Council, County Director Council, Vice-President's Council, and as a Strategic Initiative Leader. During his tenure on these committees, he shaped policies and helped lead UC ANR through institutional changes and difficult financial and political times.
He took unique approaches to bringing people together to address the most pressing issues in California. For example, while serving as SI leader for Sustainable Natural Ecosystems (SNE), he spearheaded a conference in 2019 focusing on wildfire after the devastating 2018 California fire season, bringing together the best science and challenging SNE members to work together to find innovative solutions to the wildfire issue. This conference cemented ANR's commitment to addressing wildfire challenges across program areas, sparking ingenuity and shared vision.
Lile has not only built a reputation for himself, he has built a strong reputation for UCCE across Northeast California. He has cultivated and strengthened the region by facilitating the Intermountain Workgroup, serving on over 25 hiring committees (and chairing 18) including all of the academics currently working in Modoc, Lassen, Sierra, Plumas and Siskiyou counties. His leadership as county director has led to thriving county programs with long-term employees who work together towards a shared vision. David Lile is an Outstanding Leader in every sense of the term. He has provided tireless leadership to build consensus around contentious topics and create collaborative, science-based solutions to enhance natural resources and sustain productive agricultural enterprises.
Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Small Acreage Landowner Website team
The Small Acreage Landowner Website team of UCCE livestock and natural resources advisors Julie Finzel, Flavie Audoin, Theresa Becchetti, Brooke Latack, Dan Macon, Rebecca Ozeran, and Devii Rao worked to address the concerns of owners of small acreages.
To reach a diverse clientele, both in ethnicity and gender, the team developed a website as a clearinghouse of information and translated the entire website into Spanish to better reach this historically underserved population.
The website provides science-based information on livestock care and management including nutrition, housing, fencing, reproduction, health care and parasite control. It also has resources on emergency preparedness, wildland fire, rangeland and pasture management, water quality, and pests, predators and weeds. Short videos accompany written materials to help broaden the audience.
Congratulations again to all of the honorees.
Brent Hales
Associate Vice President for Research and Cooperative Extension
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Nominations for the 2024 ANR Distinguished Service Awards will be accepted until April 19. The awards for academics are sponsored by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Academic Assembly Council.
Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to recognize outstanding achievement by yourself or your colleagues. The biennial ANR Distinguished Service Awards recognize service and academic excellence in UC Cooperative Extension over a significant period of time. Awards highlight the use of innovative methods and the integration of research, extension and leadership.
The purpose of these awards is to recognize and reward outstanding accomplishments in six areas:
- Outstanding Research
- Outstanding Extension
- Outstanding New Academic
- Outstanding Team
- Outstanding Leader
- Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Winners of individual awards will receive a certificate and $2,000. Winners of the team award will share $5,000. Complete award criteria and instructions for submitting nominations are at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC.
To nominate someone, fill out the online survey at 2024 ANR Distinguished Service Awards and submit all materials in the nomination packet through the survey or alternately, as a PDF, care of Kathryn Stein (kathryn.stein@ucop.edu) by the extended deadline - April 19, 2024, at 5pm.
For more information, feel free to contact the Academic Assembly Council Program Committee:
- Daniela Bruno, dfbruno@ucanr.edu
- Safeeq Khan, msafeeq@ucmerced.edu
- Keith Nathaniel, kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu
- Susie Kocher, sdkocher@ucanr.edu
- Nicole Marshall-Wheeler, nmarshall@ucanr.edu
- Giuliano Carneiro Galdi, gcgaldi@ucanr.edu
For more information about Academic Assembly Council, visit its website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC.
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Nominations are being accepted for the 2024 ANR Distinguished Service Awards, which are sponsored by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Academic Assembly Council.
Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to recognize outstanding achievement by yourself or your colleagues. The biennial ANR Distinguished Service Awards recognize service and academic excellence in UC Cooperative Extension over a significant period of time. Awards highlight the use of innovative methods and the integration of research, extension and leadership.
The purpose of these awards is to recognize and reward outstanding accomplishments in six areas:
- Outstanding Research
- Outstanding Extension
- Outstanding New Academic
- Outstanding Team
- Outstanding Leader
- Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Winners of individual awards will receive a certificate and $2,000. Winners of the team award will share $5,000. Complete award criteria and instructions for submitting nominations are at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC.
To nominate someone, fill out the online survey at 2024 ANR Distinguished Service Awards and submit all materials in the nomination packet by 5 p.m., April 1, 2024 to Daniel Obrist (dobrist@ucanr.edu).
For more information, feel free to contact the Academic Assembly Council Program Committee:
- Daniela Bruno, dfbruno@ucanr.edu
- Safeeq Khan, msafeeq@ucmerced.edu
- Keith Nathaniel, kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu
- Susie Kocher, sdkocher@ucanr.edu
- Nicole Marshall-Wheeler, nmarshall@ucanr.edu
- Giuliano Carneiro Galdi, gcgaldi@ucanr.edu
For more information about Academic Assembly Council, visit its website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC.
Sponsored by UC ANR and Academic Assembly Council, the Distinguished Service Awards recognize service and academic excellence in UC Cooperative Extension over a significant period of time. The awards highlight the use of innovative methods and the integration of research, extension and leadership by UC ANR academics.
Award categories include outstanding research, outstanding extension, outstanding new academic, outstanding team, outstanding leader and contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion.
We are pleased to congratulate and recognize this year's honorees:
Outstanding Research - Mark Hoddle
Mark Hoddle has been a UCCE specialist in biological control in UC Riverside Department of Entomology for 25 years. His research program on biocontrol of invasive pests that attack agricultural crops, threaten wilderness areas, and degrade urban landscapes in California has been supported by more than $14.5 million in grants from commodity boards and state and federal agencies and have significant impacts in California, nationally and internationally.
Highlights of his work include the successful biological control of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a species of palm weevil (Rhynchophorus vulneratus), the Asian citrus psyllid and the Argentine ant, resulting in a massive reduction and elimination of these pests in California and other states and countries.
Hoddle also has developed proactive biocontrol and integrated pest management programs for pests not yet present in California but that are likely to invade, including the spotted lantern fly, the avocado seed moth and the avocado seed weevil.
His outstanding research has led to over 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals, books and book chapters. He also has published over 100 extension articles and 40 web pages. His outreach includes interviews for TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and podcasts.
In addition to his academic successes, Hoddle has mentored seven graduate students, more than 40 undergraduate students and nine post-graduate researchers. He also has received several national and international awards throughout his career.
Outstanding Extension - Lyn Brock
Lyn Brock is the academic coordinator for statewide training for both the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California. Brock leads the training and professional development efforts for academics and staff that work at the state and county levels for both programs.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the EFNEP and CFHL, UC programs were stymied by the inability to provide in-person education. Through her persistence, innovation and leadership, Brock transitioned more than 140 program staff to virtual delivery in a matter of months so that they could continue to serve the people of California.
She spearheaded novel trainings pertaining to a wide variety of topics that suddenly became relevant, including learner-centered programming, online learning platforms and copyright policies, among others. Under her leadership, 24 evidence-based curricula were adapted for virtual delivery during the pandemic. These programs are still regarded by the programs' federally funded partners as cutting-edge in virtual education.
Brock has produced numerous limited distribution publications and also presented during conferences, trainings and presentations to extend knowledge in her role as training coordinator. Highlights of her extension work include the What's Up Wednesday meetings, virtual staff check-in meetings to facilitate communication between program leadership staff. She also developed training material and trained staff on available virtual platforms to allow them to deliver programs virtually.
Outstanding New Academic - Aparna Gazula
Aparna Gazula became a UCCE small farms advisor in 2016. Her extension program provides training and technical assistance for nutrient management, pest management, irrigation and food safety to diversified vegetable farmers in Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.
Because a majority of the crops grown by Asian immigrant farmers – including amaranth, bok choy, gai choy, gai lan, a choy, Chinese celery, edible chrysanthemum, yam leaves, garlic chives and pea tips – are considered minor crops, there is little research-based information about them that can be used as the basis for management decisions or to fulfill regulatory requirements.In six years, she has secured more than $1.6 million in grant funding for research, outreach and technical assistance to fill information gaps on pest management, food safety and water and nutrient management.
Many of the socially disadvantaged farmers Gazula works with face language and cultural barriers. To provide targeted extension to non-English speaking farmers, she secured grant funding to hire specialists and educators who are fluent in Cantonese and Spanish. With her team, Gazula provides technical assistance, workshops, and outreach publications in Chinese and Spanish.
She also has led her team in assisting farmers in the region to access pandemic relief funding and state programs to improve soil health and water use efficiency. Gazula and her team helped non-English-speaking farmers submit over 200 applications for relief between April and December 2020. These farmers received $3.1 million in emergency aid, allowing them to maintain vegetable production during the pandemic. With her team she also provided training and technical assistance, in both Cantonese and English, to farmers about the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program and Healthy Soils Program.
Although Gazula is a new academic, she is recognized throughout the region for her expertise and is often called on by community and local government groups to contribute to food and farming initiatives. She has established herself as a leader in supporting the Asian vegetable industry.
Outstanding Team - UC ANR Winter Cover Cropping/Water Use Team
The UC ANR Winter Cover Cropping/Water Use Team is composed of UCCE specialists Daniele Zaccaria, Samuel Sandoval Solis, Amelie Gaudin, Jeff Mitchell and Khaled Bali, UCCE advisor Dan Munk and UC Davis students Alyssa DeVincentis and Anna Gomes.
In direct response to prominent knowledge gaps around implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the team conducted a focused applied research program on water-related impacts of winter cover crops in California's Central Valley from 2016 to 2019.
Their research showed that the benefits of winter cropping in processing tomato and almond production systems offset or compensated for water used during the winter by the cover crops. Contrary to widespread belief, research results showed that cover crops did not use a lot of soil water because evapotranspiration during this period is normally low, crops shade and cool the soil surface, and improve soil aggregation, pore space and soil water infiltration and retention.
This research provided the basis for a series of 11 invited extension education presentations and outreach activities to inform and guide policy implementation of local stakeholder agencies and entities including the Madera Regional Water Management Group, the American Farmland Trust's SJV Conservation Partnership Program, the CA/NV Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the East Stanislaus, the Eastern Merced, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare Counties Resource Conservation Districts, as well as the California Irrigation Institute.
Outstanding Leader - Gail Feenstra
Gail Feenstra, director of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, is a distinguished leader and visionary, not only in UC ANR, but across the food systems landscape. Her career has been exemplary in terms of her pioneering success in applied, multidisciplinary research, evaluation, and outreach. In the early 1990s, Feenstra began to parlay her graduate training in nutrition along with her experience in community development and food systems into what was then a very new, poorly studied discipline that she would continue to develop and lead for the next three decades.
This field of work comprises regional food systems that merge the business and livelihood needs of small- and mid-scale farmers with the economic well-being and nutritional health of their local communities. Feenstra developed SAREP's and the nation's understanding of values-based supply chains. She has been a pioneer in the farm-to-school movement and has developed widely adopted tools for farm-to-school evaluation. In recognition of her stature in this field, CDFA selected her to lead a four-year, $60 million evaluation of its Farm to School Grant Program.
Feenstra also has shown tremendous leadership within UC ANR through her role as co-chair of the California Communities and Food Systems Program Team where she has helped shape collaborations within UC ANR. She has worked to bridge interconnected disciplines of nutrition, food, health, community development and agriculture within UC ANR. She also has led efforts to work across program teams, particularly in developing new specialist and advisor position descriptions. Her energy is infectious and her leadership through collaboration is compelling. The Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society recently honored Feenstra with its 2022 Richard P. Haynes Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award.
Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Katherine Soule
Katherine Soule began her DEI work in 2013, focusing on providing solutions to the challenges that marginalized youth, families and communities face on the Central Coast.
Her work particularly focused on the needs of Latino youth and families, LGBTQ+ youth and adults, neurodivergent people, and individuals living in poverty. Through a timely intervention, Soule's DEI work has helped to increase health equity, improve food security and safety, and promote economic prosperity in marginalized communities.
She implemented a very impactful “Schools as Hubs of Health” program that reached more than 4,000 students annually in more than 150 classrooms and created a college and career readiness pathway that engaged more than 12,000 youth. She brings an interdisciplinary approach to her work with an emphasis on engaged and participatory research, and lifelong commitment to personally unlearning and decolonizing.
Soule also demonstrates DEI leadership by serving on the UC ANR DEI Advisory Council as the inaugural chair and serving on the City of San Luis Obispo's DEI Taskforce.
Congratulations again to all the honorees.
Glenda Humiston
Vice President
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Nominations are being accepted for the 2022 ANR Distinguished Service Awards, which are sponsored by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Academic Assembly Council.
Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to recognize outstanding achievement by yourself or your colleagues. The biennial ANR Distinguished Service Awards recognize service and academic excellence in UC Cooperative Extension over a significant period of time. Awards highlight the use of innovative methods and the integration of research, extension and leadership. A new award has been developed for this round that recognizes contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion in extension
The purpose of these awards is to recognize and reward outstanding accomplishments in six areas:
- Outstanding Research
- Outstanding Extension
- Outstanding New Academic
- Outstanding Team
- Outstanding Leader
- Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Winners of individual awards will receive a certificate and $2,000. Winners of the team award will share $5,000. Complete award criteria and instructions for submitting nominations are at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC.
To nominate someone, fill out the online survey at 2022 ANR Distinguished Service Awards and submit all materials in the nomination packet by 5 p.m., April 15, 2022, to Wendy.powers-schilling@ucop.edu.
For more information, feel free to contact the Academic Assembly Council Program Committee:
- Daniela Bruno, dfbruno@ucanr.edu
- Safeeq Khan, msafeeq@ucmerced.edu
- Keith Nathaniel, kcnathaniel@ucanr.edu
- Susie Kocher, sdkocher@ucanr.edu
For more information about Academic Assembly Council, visit its website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC.
