Letter from Department Head

Dean Letter: Dr. Applegate

Dear Poultry Science friends,

As we welcome students back to campus and begin another academic year, there is always a renewed sense of energy, optimism, and opportunity that comes with the fall semester. The return of our students, combined with the excitement of new ideas, new discoveries, and new connections, makes this one of my favorite times of the year.First, congratulations to our three outstanding faculty members (Drs. Dalloul, Ellestad, and Kim), who each received a 2025 D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence! These honors reflect the dedication and innovation that define our department and strengthen UGA’s reputation in agricultural and environmental sciences.

Before looking ahead, I want to recognize the outstanding efforts of our faculty, staff, graduate students, and collaborators this summer. At the Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting and World Poultry Congress in Toronto, UGA Poultry Science delivered an impressive 59 presentations spanning physiology, health, nutrition, food safety, bird well-being, and precision poultry technologies. Equally impressive was the collaborative nature of this work, involving partnerships with 30 organizations across the United States and eight other countries. Congratulations to all who represented UGA so well, and special recognition to Drs. Benson, Chen, Dalloul, Ellestad, Kim, and Olukosi for sharing their expertise through invited and featured presentations.

This fall, we are also excited to welcome Dr. Nirvay Sah to our faculty. Dr. Sah joins us in a physiology research and teaching position and will play an important role in strengthening our educational and research programs. We look forward to the contributions he will make to our students, department, and the broader poultry science community.It was fantastic to reconnect with so many of you at the Homecoming Barbecue this fall. Seeing alumni and friends come together reminds us of the strong community that surrounds Poultry Science. And of course, a big shout-out to Hairy Dawg for bringing the Bulldog spirit to both the BBQ and our Recruitment Open House!

As we begin the semester, I encourage our students to take advantage of the many opportunities available both inside and outside the classroom. The future of our poultry and life science sectors depends on talented, curious, and engaged individuals, and we are committed to helping each of you develop the skills and experiences needed to succeed.As we look forward to a productive 2026, we are finalizing our strategic planning process to chart the course for the next several years, ensuring that our department remains at the forefront of education, research, and outreach in poultry science. To help us pave the way, we are wrapping up interviews for a new poultry physiologist faculty member, and we’re thrilled about the impact this position will have on our research and teaching mission. Looking ahead to 2026, we are equally excited to add a breeder/hatchery extension specialist, further expanding our capacity to serve Georgia’s poultry industry and beyond.

Thank you to our alumni, industry partners, colleagues, and friends for your continued support of the Department of Poultry Science. Your engagement helps ensure that our department remains a leader in education, research, and outreach.

I wish everyone a successful and rewarding fall.

Go Dawgs,

Dr. Todd J. Applegate