Caption below
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gregg Nuessly, a professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida’s Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, has been named interim director of the center.
Nuessly has worked at the Everglades research center since 1989 and has served as associate center director for the past two years. The center is part of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
“As interim center director, I will work to broaden statewide cooperative efforts for research and extension while continuing the mission of the EREC and UF,” Nuessly said. “The strength of the EREC lies with the diverse faculty and staff collaborating in interdisciplinary research and extension to solve local and regional agricultural and wildlife issues. Our strong relationships with local growers and groups are also key to past and future successes for the EREC.”
Nuessly earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California-Irvine in 1978, a master’s in entomology from the University of California-Riverside in 1981 and his Ph.D. in entomology from Texas A&M University in 1986.
Nuessly joined UF following three years as a research entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service in Brawley, Calif.
Working in Palm Beach County — one of the largest agricultural production counties in the U.S. — he conducts pest management research on a range of arthropod pests associated with leafy green and leafy Brassica vegetables, sweet and field corn, sweet sorghum for biofuel, sugarcane and turfgrass.
Nuessly received the Distinguished Achievement Award in horticultural entomology from the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America for his research and extension program on controlling greenbug aphids on cool season turfgrasses.
He has written or co-authored 70 refereed publications, 140 peer-reviewed electronic publications and extension documents, six germplasm and cultivar releases for sweet corn, celery and turfgrass, and he has co-authored three book chapters.
Nuessly is actively involved with graduate student activities and committees in the Entomological Society of America and the Florida Entomological Society. He served as editor of the Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
Jack Payne, UF’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, named Nuessly to the position.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Dr. Nuessly’s academic and research expertise step into the critical role of interim director of the Everglades Research and Education Center,” Payne said. “I am confident Dr. Nuessly will continue to lead the research center as we focus on the agricultural needs of the Everglades area.”
Nuessly replaces Rob Gilbert, who was recently named chair of the UF/IFAS agronomy department.
-30-
Photo available at http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/
By Brad Buck, 352-294-3303, bradbuck@ufl.edu
Source: Gregg Nuessly, 561-993-1559, gnuessly@ufl.edu
Caption: Gregg Nuessly, a UF professor of entomology, has been named interim director of the University of Florida’s Everglades Research and Education Center, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.