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Renowned mycologist Marin Brewer has been appointed as the new head of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. A distinguished scholar and educator, Brewer joined CAES in 2011 and was named the William Terrell Distinguished Professor in 2022. Her research has focused on the evolution and diversity of plant-pathogenic fungi, with particular interest in fungicide resistance, host specialization and fungal mating systems.

For the third consecutive year, the University of Georgia ranked No. 1 among U.S. universities for number of commercial products brought to market by industry partners based on university research, according to an annual survey conducted by AUTM. These products span a range of industries including poultry vaccines, biodegradable plastics, virtual reality tools for disaster preparedness, biomedical research tools and new plant varieties of turfgrass, blueberries, wheats — and peanuts, developed by newly elected National Academy of Inventors Fellow Bill Branch — to name a few.

Georgia, traditionally known as the Peach State, is famous for its peaches, pecans and peanuts. But thanks to its mild climate, the state also supports a variety of uncommon fruits and nuts — like black walnut. In a series inspired by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension publication “Minor Fruits and Nuts in Georgia,” we’re highlighting lesser-known fruits and nuts that can thrive in Georgia home gardens.

When outdoor temperatures climb into triple digits and the humidity becomes suffocating, most people head inside. But for Georgia’s farmers, farmworkers and landscape professionals, the work doesn’t stop when the heat index rises to dangerous levels. As the hottest weeks of the year stretch ahead, the physical, mental and emotional risks of working outdoors increase. Extreme heat doesn’t just threaten crops, turfgrass and livestock — it wears down the people who grow our food and maintain our green spaces.

More than 72,460 University of Georgia supporters contributed a record $300.4 million to the university during the fiscal year that ended June 30 (FY25). This is the first time university fundraising has surpassed $300 million. Most recently, the Delta Air Lines Foundation committed $5 million to the Hospitality and Food Industry Management program in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students by launching the renovation of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel.

The University of Georgia has named its 40 Under 40 Class of 2025, recognizing a group of young alumni based on their personal, professional and philanthropic achievements. Honorees from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences include Caroline Lewallen (BSA '11 - Agricultural Education), Charles Orgbon (BSA '18 - Environmental Economics and Management), Colby Ruiz (BSA '15 - Biological Science), Caroline Stelling (BSA '11 - Environmental Economics and Management) and Tyson Strickland (BSA '11, DVM '16 - Animal Science).

Jesse Cronic, a third-year agricultural and applied economics student in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, was selected to join the Future Agriculture Leaders Delegation to China, a program organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the U.S. Heartland China Association. The experience offered an immersive look at Chinese agribusiness, trade dynamics and the cultural ties that shape global agriculture.

Liang Dong, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Microelectronics Research Center at Iowa State University, is set to become the University of Georgia’s newest Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, effective Aug. 1. At UGA, Dong will be the GRA Eminent Scholar in Precision Agriculture, with a joint appointment in the colleges of Engineering and Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He will also serve as associate director for research at the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture.

The University of Georgia Regenerative Bioscience Center is researching how a novel stem cell therapy can rebuild the brain by enhancing the body’s self-repair system to treat a range of neurodegenerative disorders. “Our goal is to find solutions that can help people immediately. For stroke patients, with our cell therapy advancing through clinical trials, we're trying to make a difference sooner rather than later,” said Steven Stice, director and co-founder of the UGA Regenerative Bioscience Center.

Fifteen years ago, what is now a thriving, 10-acre teaching farm began as little more than a beat-up cattle run. Today, UGArden is not only a model of sustainable agriculture at the University of Georgia: It’s also a cherished community garden built by and for students, where they can learn to grow food organically, connect with the land and serve the broader Athens community.