The Ag Alumni Society plays a vital role in supporting the college, its students, and alumni programming. Stay up to date and learn more about all the exciting news and events happening in the college and with the Ag Alumni Society.

Pasto Ag Museum offering 'Research Unplugged' events on October Thursdays

September 27, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Pasto Agricultural Museum will host three “Research Unplugged” presentations Thursday afternoons in October, featuring Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ faculty talking about their studies in entomology.

Trustees hear updates on Advocate Penn State, government relations strategy

September 21, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Office of Government and Community Relations (OGCR) is preparing for the year ahead as both the state and federal governments return from summer recess. Advocate Penn State, the University’s broad-based advocacy initiative organizationally housed in OGCR, shared its strategies and plans for 2021-22 today (Sept. 16) with the Board of Trustees Committee on Outreach, Development and Community Relations.

After 41-year Penn State career, plant science professor Kathleen Brown retires

September 3, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kathleen Brown, professor of plant stress biology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, recently retired after a 41-year career during which she helped break new ground in root biology, had a profound effect on many students and played an important role in the Department of Plant Science.

Penn State centers collaborate on pollinator education project

September 2, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kathy Hill, associate professor of education (science education) in the College of Education and director of the Center for Science and the Schools (CSATS), and Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences and director of the Center for Pollinator Research (CPR), are leading a team that has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The grant will allow the team to partner with elementary school teachers in Pennsylvania to develop cross-disciplinary curricula to support their students in understanding pollinator research in the areas of food, agriculture and natural resources.

Opportunity for increased dairy competitiveness Pennsylvania ranks 7th nationally in total milk production

August 20, 2021

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Senator Elder Vogel, Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, joined dairy leaders at Harrisburg Dairies today to highlight a new state law that strengthens dairy competitiveness in the marketplace by increasing consumer choice and reducing food waste. A recommendation of the Dairy Future Commission, Governor Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 434 into law on June 30, 2021which offers milk sell-by date and best-by date labeling flexibility to dairy processors.

Halls deepen commitment to Arboretum with new gift

August 20, 2021

For longtime State College residents and Penn State alumni Dennis and Sandra Parker Hall, The Arboretum at Penn State holds a special place in their hearts due, in part, to all it offers not only to them as locals and volunteers, but also to the surrounding community and visitors from near and far. With that firmly in mind, the couple pledged a gift of $75,000 to name the future Fountain Garden Terrace.

Plant pathology professor receives Excellence in Teaching Award

August 20, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — María del Mar Jiménez-Gasco, professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, received this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the American Phytopathological Society. The honor came during the group’s annual meeting, Plant Health 2021, held virtually Aug. 2-6.

Ag Progress Days

August 18, 2021

At the 45th annual Ag Progress Days, hosted by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, visitors enjoyed exhibits, presentations, and of course, milkshakes!

Butcher School

August 17, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Butcher School, offered by Penn State Extension, is now seeking applications for its second session, starting in January 2022.

Pollinator and Bird Garden opens in the Arboretum at Penn State

June 28, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — People strolling through The Arboretum at Penn State are likely to see more winged creatures visiting the many flowering plants with the opening of the long-awaited Pollinator and Bird Garden the week of June 28.

Four Honored for commitment to Diversity in the College of Agricultural Sciences

June 23, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Four individuals have received the 2021 Dr. William Henson Diversity Achievement Award from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, an honor that recognizes distinctive and outstanding teaching, research, extension or creative work that advances diversity in the college.

Team pitching hemp crop row covers to replace plastic wins Ag Springboard

June 23, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A pair of recent Penn State graduates planning to manufacture and sell crop row covers made of hemp fiber — instead of the typical plastic — won $7,500 toward their venture in the College of Agricultural Sciences’ 2021 Ag Springboard student business pitch contest.

Siegfried named associate dean for research in College of Agricultural Sciences

June 10, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Blair D. Siegfried, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida, has been named associate dean for research and graduate education and director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, effective Oct. 1.

Penn State Extension’s ‘Roadside Guide to Clean Water’ wins awards

June 10, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The “Roadside Guide to Clean Water,” a publication of Penn State Extension, has been recognized three times since being published in April 2020.

Metzger family names space in new building

June 10, 2021

The motivation to make a philanthropic gift to an organization is different for every donor, but in many cases, it boils down to the desire to make a positive impact. This rings true for Dr. Fred Metzger Jr. and his wife, Megan, who have made the first major gift to support the new Animal, Veterinary, and Biomedical Sciences Building. The seven-figure gift to name the general purpose classroom in the facility will provide funding for the departments of animal science and veterinary and biomedical sciences to support the state-of-the-art facility expected to open in the fall of 2021.

Penn State to ease masking and distancing measures, offer vaccination incentives

June 7, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has announced plans to transition its masking and physical distancing requirements on June 28 to more closely align with changes recently announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health that relax COVID-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals. The changes will apply to all Penn State campuses except the College of Medicine. Students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated — and share their vaccination status with the University — as soon as possible.

Acar receives Excellence in Academic Advising Award from College of Ag Sciences

June 7, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Nüket Acar, coordinator of undergraduate advising for veterinary and biomedical sciences, has received the 2021 Excellence in Academic Advising Award from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Terry Etherton to retire with legacy of groundbreaking research, leadership

June 7, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Terry Etherton joined the Penn State faculty in 1979, the use of biotechnology for the improvement of animal species was in its infancy. More than four decades later, the still-evolving field has advanced greatly, thanks in part to Etherton's groundbreaking work.

Nineteenth annual Penn State Quarter Horse sale marks beginning of a new era

April 21, 2021

The 19th annual Penn State Equine Science Showcase and Quarter Horse Sale will take place in a virtual format again this year. With the help of Professional Horse Services LLC, bidding on the 14 horses will be open from April 27 through May 1.

Environmental Resource Management program, alumni celebrating 50 years of impact

April 21, 2021

Penn State’s Environment Resource Management program — referred to as ERM — was established in 1971 to meet the demand for people with the scientific and leadership skills needed to address the enormous environmental challenges that had become so apparent in the 1960s.

Nutritional journal highlights research on micronutrient's disease-fighting role

March 29, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Journal of Nutritional Science designated a Penn State research paper on how a dietary antioxidant may fight chronic disease and aging as its “Paper of the Month” in February. The article suggested that incorporating more of the dietary amino acid ergothioneine into one’s diet may help stave off long-term health problems.

Uniform drying time for goldenseal to enhance medicinal qualities of forest herb

March 29, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Developing a standardized drying protocol for goldenseal could lead to more predictable health applications and outcomes by preserving the alkaloids found in the plant, which is native to Appalachia, according to Penn State researchers, who conducted a new study of the medicinal forest herb.

Urban agriculture can help, but not solve, city food security problems

March 29, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — While urban agriculture can play a role in supporting food supply chains for many major American cities — contributing to food diversity, sustainability and localizing food systems — it is unrealistic to expect rooftop gardens, community plots and the like to provide the majority of nutrition for the population of a metropolis.

Researchers ask anglers' help with study of brook, brown trout colors, patterns

March 29, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State researchers, who are evaluating the colors, pattern variations and genetics of wild brook and brown trout across Pennsylvania, are asking anglers to help with their study.

Ottar Bjørnstad elected to Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters

March 24, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Ottar N. Bjørnstad, distinguished professor of entomology and biology and J. Lloyd & Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair of Epidemiology at Penn State, has been elected to the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters. Bjørnstad was recommended as a result of his significant contributions to the fields of population ecology and quantitative epidemiology.

Agricultural Sciences student research highlighted in virtual Global Gallery

March 8, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Faculty and graduate students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will showcase their international research during the third annual Global Gallery, a symposium hosted by the international agriculture and development dual-title graduate program, known as INTAD, and its student association.

Food science student honing leadership, public speaking skills as Ag Advocate

March 8, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Madalyn Arthur, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, a junior majoring in food science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is elevating the image of agriculture and the college as an Ag Advocate.

Lake turbidity mitigates impact of warming on walleyes in upper Midwest lakes

March 5, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Because walleyes are a cool-water fish species with a limited temperature tolerance, biologists expected them to act like the proverbial “canary in a coal mine” that would begin to suffer and signal when lakes influenced by climate change start to warm. But in a new study, a team of researchers discovered that it is not that simple.

Smell-check cards help call attention to common COVID-19 symptom

March 3, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students, faculty, staff and others visiting well-traveled areas of Penn State campuses across the state may have noticed or received postcards with a "peel-and-sniff" area prompting them to detect and identify a particular aroma. If their olfactory senses fail them, they may be infected with COVID-19.

Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity space named for alumnus and donor

February 16, 2021

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State alumnus Jeffrey A. Conrad has made a $1 million gift to support facility renovations and enhanced programming for the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity at University Park. As the largest gift in the center’s history, Conrad’s commitment will provide an expanded home for the campus’s LGBTQ+ and ally communities while enhancing its future programming. In recognition of his support, the renovated space will be named The Jeffrey A. Conrad Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity.

Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Kelly Praskovich
  • Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Development and Alumni Relations

Address

240 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802