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
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
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