The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will recognize nine of its finest Nov. 10 with the D.W. Brooks Awards for Excellence and the CAES Faculty and Staff Support Awards.
The Brooks Awards and Lecture Series was launched more than 30 years ago in honor of the UGA alumnus and former faculty member of the college.
This year’s award winners are Peggy Ozias-Akins, a professor in the horticulture department and director of the UGA Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics. She will receive the Brooks Distinguished Professor Award in recognition of her 30-year career at UGA developing new breeding techniques for peanuts.
Ronald Pegg, an associate professor in the food science and technology department, will receive the Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes his work introducing undergraduates to food analysis techniques and introducing non-majors to the chemistry of food with his popular courses on coffee.
George Vellidis, a professor in the crop and soil sciences department, is the recipient of the Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Research. The award recognizes his work developing precision agriculture techniques that allow farmers to grow more with less water and his international collaborations that focus on precision agriculture technologies.
Phillip Brannen, a professor in the plant pathology department, will receive the Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Extension. The award recognizes his work as the state’s pre-eminent Extension fruit disease pathologist. His work has grown in importance as the state’s blueberry and grape crops have expanded.
Jennifer Grogan, county Extension coordinator for Mitchell County and 4-H agent, will be given the Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Public Service Extension. As a 32-year veteran of UGA Extension, Grogan is known for going above and beyond to serve Mitchell County residents.
Robert Beckstead, an associate professor in the poultry science department, will receive the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award. It recognizes his dedication to his position as undergraduate coordinator for poultry science, a major that draws many pre-professional students in addition to those studying poultry production.
Mary Jane Scarborough, an administrative specialist in the horticulture department, will receive the CAES Staff Award for Administrative or Professional Support. From managing the department’s promotion and tenure records to making sure classes are entered in the UGA Bulletin correctly, Scarborough has managed the details of the horticulture department’s inner workings since 1987.
Carl Hall, farm supervisor at Durham Horticulture Farm, will receive the CAES Staff Award for Skilled Trades. He started working at the farm 36 years ago and has become known as the go-to person for information about farm management and a master engineer, who often builds specialized research equipment from scratch.
Jennifer Berry, a research professional at the UGA Honey Bee Lab, will receive the CAES Staff Award for Technical Support. She has managed the research program at the UGA Honey Bee Lab since 2000 and has become an indispensable resource for beekeepers in Georgia and across the Southeast.
