Special News - ANSC Alumnus is a "National" Sensation!

Oct 01, 2009
Former ANSC student, Justin Maxwell, made national headlines last night, but not as you might expect. Justin hit a walk-off grand slam for the Washington Nationals to give their troubled season a perfect storybook ending. The Nationals were down 3-4 to the Mets when Maxwell stepped up to the plate for the first time that night. What happened next was something that Justin will undoubtedly remember for the rest of his life. A Maryland native, Maxwell was actually drafted by the Baltimore Orioles straight out of high school in 2001, but declined the offer in order to pursue an education at the University of Maryland studying Animal Science. ANSC Professor and Department Chair, Dr. Tom Porter, recalls how Maxwell also excelled in the classroom. "He was a great student. I remember him hitting some home runs in our Physiology class," says Porter. Dr. Mark Varner remembers when he had Justin on the first day of class and asked him, "What will you be doing in 10 years?" Justin's response was, "Either playing major league baseball or I'll be a small animal veterinarian." A few years later, Justin was drafted for a second time in 2004, this time by the Texas Rangers, but again opted to stay and complete his education. After graduating college in 2005, Justin signed with the Nationals and spent the next few seasons playing in their minor league system. Unfortunately, Justin missed much of the 2008 season due to injury and then spent most of the 2009 season playing for a Triple-A team in Syracuse. It was only a month ago that Justin was called up to play for the Nationals in replacement of center fielder Nyjer Morgan. After last night's spectacular performance, it is clear that Justin is no longer in the "farm club," but has arrived in the big leagues.
The ANSC family wishes you our congratulations, Justin! - Link

Maryland Dairy Judging Team wins World Dairy Expo

Sep 30, 2009
Congratulations to our own Kiera Finucane and the Maryland 4-H Dairy Judging Team for winning the 2009 World Dairy Expo! This year's team is coached by Loretta Wright, a long-time supporter of dairy and Maryland 4-H from a dairy herd in Carroll County. The team is composed of Chelsea Davis, Emily Gill, Morgan Meisenheimer and Ariel Taxdal. - Link

Faculty/Staff Cookoff Results

Sep 24, 2009

MAIN DISH CATEGORY

• First Place: SHERYL GREY - "MEATBALLS WITH A TWIST"
• Second Place: DR. ANGELA BLACK - "TEXAS CHILI"
• Third Place: JANICE BARBER - "MAPLE CHICKEN"

SIDE DISH CATEGORY

• First Place: DR. MARK VARNER - "GRILLED SWEET CORN SALSA CON POLLO"
• Second Place: DR. ANGELA BLACK - "CORN MUFFINS"
• Third Place: JANICE BARBER - "NOT-THE-SAME-OLD-COLESLAW"

DESSERT CATEGORY

• First Place: DR. ED ORLANDO - "ED'S EXOTIC CHOCOLATE PIE"
• Second Place: DR. RICK KOHN - "SEVEN LAYER CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TORTE"
• Third Place: DR. AMY BURK - "BURK'S BANGIN' CHOCOLATE BARS"

Dr. Mary Ann Ottinger receives NIH Grant

Sep 23, 2009
Dr. Mary Ann Ottinger has been awarded a grant from NIH-National Institute on Aging entitled, "RECOVERY: Effects of E-Quinols on Neural Disease." The total amount is $357,201 for two years. The research is a collaboration with scientists from the VA/UMB Medical School and University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. Ms. Anna Schlappal will be conducting her Ph.D. research as part of these studies. The focus of this research is to explore the effects of estrogens on the progression of neural disease, specifically Alzheimer's Disease in a transgenic animal model that has several of the human genes.

Dr. Frank Siewerdt teaches first Brazilian Course in Genomic Selection

Aug 27, 2009
The first Brazilian course in genomic selection was held at the Center of Biotechnology of the Federal University of Pelotas, attracting 18 participants from four institutions and two countries (Brazil and Uruguay). Week 1 was taught by Dr. Heden Luiz Marques Moreira, covering molecular techniques used in data capture. Week 2 was taught by Dr. Frank Siewerdt, covering selection theory, marker-assisted selection, and genomic selection, including the latest developments on the topic. - Link

The Thomas Hartsock Animal Management Endowed Scholarship

Aug 26, 2009
The Department is very proud to announce the creation of a new scholarship fund by one of our former faculty members. Through a gracious donation, Dr. Thomas Hartsock has created the Thomas Hartsock Animal Management Endowed Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is available to any Undergraduate student who is studying for non-veterinary careers related to the care and management of livestock. The student must either be enrolled in the Department of Animal & Avian Sciences or the Institute of Applied Agriculture.

From 1979 until 2007, Dr. Thomas Hartsock devoted himself to research and teaching students in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences at the University of Maryland. At the time of his retirement from the University, Dr. Hartsock held the positions of Director of the Institute of Applied Agriculture and Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. Dr. Hartsock has had a long-standing belief in "hands-on" applied learning for students in the two-year and four-year programs.

Dr. Iqbal Hamza receives Roche Grant

Jul 21, 2009
Dr. Iqbal Hamza has received a two-year grant from The Roche Foundation for Anemia Research (RoFAR) for research in Functional Genomics by Genome-Wide RNAi of Heme Homeostasis in Animals. Join us in congratulating Dr. Hamza! - Link

Dr. Tom Porter honored with the Dean Gordon Cairns Award for Distinguished Creative Work and Teaching in Agriculture

May 15, 2009
Dr. Tom Porter has received the Dean Gordon Cairns Award for Distinguished Creative Work and Teaching in Agriculture. The Cairns award is the premier award to recognize members of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty, including AES and MCE faculty in Entomology and Family Studies, who make outstanding and creative contributions. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Porter on this great honor!

Gary Lapanne selected for the On-Campus Staff Excellence Award

May 14, 2009
Gary Lapanne was presented with the On-Campus Staff Excellence Award at the AGNR Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards Ceremony. Congratulations, Gary!

Dr. Frank Siewerdt receives teaching awards

May 13, 2009
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Frank Siewerdt for receiving not one, but two education awards. Dr. Siewerdt received the "Excellence in Teaching" Award from Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society of Agriculture, as well as the "Outstanding Faculty Educator" from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Agriculture Student Council. Great job, Dr. Siewerdt!

Dr. Rick Kohn is part of an Award Winning Team in Biotechnology

May 12, 2009
Taken from the Yahoo! News article

XyloFuel LLC, winner of a $10K Warren Citrin Social Impact Award, aims to license out patented processes for converting plant fiber to fuel ethanol and other products. University of Maryland researchers discovered a bacterium that can readily digest and ferment various forms of plant fiber to ethanol. Team members include Richard Kohn, professor of animal science, and Robert Frank, engineering manager for XyloFuel.

Dr. James Heath 1939-2009

Apr 02, 2009
Always In Motion

When I arrived to begin my career in the university's Poultry Science Department in 1978, former Chairman, Clyne Shaffner was just in the process of packing up his office to make room for Elton Johnson who would be neighbor to James L. Heath, poultry products scientist. Jim had an early chance to get to know me as I was in need of a lab with a fume hood and current Chair, Owen Thomas, told Jim to move his grad student out of room 3150. I'll never know if Jim was ever upset by that (his student was furious!) but if so, he never gave the slightest hint that he might be. Soon after, as I was setting up shop in 3150, Jim was up to explain the history of that lab (once belonged to Mary Shorb and then to her replacement, Dan Bigbee, both bacteriologists), and that in the grand scheme of things, it was probably fitting that the next microbiologist in the department should be assigned there. Our friendship began with that "move".

Of the faculty in the department, I likely served on more of Jim's graduate student committees than on those of other faculty. I got to know Jim and his work fairly well. Dennis Murphy, one of our faculty stationed at Princess Anne, is considered to be the originator of dead bird fermentation, one of the practices considered to have some merit in dealing with broiler house mortality. But, in reality, it was Jim and his student making "fish silage" that suggested that lactic fermentation of animal protein could preserve/convert dead chickens into something useful. Another time, Jim worked at length to demonstrate that marinated shredded chicken meat from spent fowl (birds taken out of egg production) could be used as an extender for crab cakes. Many of us participated in Jim's taste panels; sampling crab cakes was not a bad way to spend part of an afternoon. And, by the way, I don't believe any of the panelists ever recognized which cakes had the poultry extender! Jim's constant motion was evident in other ways. In his office were badge racks… three or four very longs strips of clips holding his past meetings' name badges. One could just about trace his professional history by following the numbers of society meetings he attended. Jim was skilled at the podium; his talks were clear and to the point. I can't recall hearing him present to mixed audiences where I ever felt that some in the room would be unable to follow what he was reporting about or others might feel he was talking down to them. His extension appointment likely helped in that regard, but the skill was there and Jim was in demand as a speaker.

There were many more moves over the years. From changes of office to expanding research facilities in the new wing; from faculty status to his temporary assignment in the Dean's shop in Symons to the Chair's office in Poultry Science; Jim was a mover! Perhaps that foretold his pleasure in travelling the world with Mary after he retired. His penultimate move was another trip with her to Peru to reprise a prior visit to Machu Picchu. Mary supplied the two photos, below, that were taken just a couple of days before his death on March 11th.

Others may wish to scour Jim's C.V. for his many noteworthy accomplishments in science. For my part, I will keep the memory of a colleague who genuinely loved life, the people around him, and the many places to be explored in this world. I am sorry he is gone, but then, he was always on the move.

- Dr. John Doerr

Dr. Iqbal Hamza named Associate Professor

Mar 06, 2009
Join us in congratulating Dr. Iqbal Hamza for being promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure (effective August 23, 2009)

Dr. Mark Varner Assumes Mentee Position in International Programs in Agriculture & Natural Resources

Feb 01, 2009
From Dean Cheng-i Wei:

AGNR Faculty and Staff,

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Mark Varner has accepted a part-time mentee position under the mentorship of Dr. Ray Miller in AGNR's International Programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources (IPAN). The mentee position, which began February 1, will last 12 months.

As a mentee in IPAN, Dr. Varner will learn the role and responsibilities of IPAN within AGNR, including meeting with funding agencies such as USAID and USDA Foreign Agriculture Service; working cooperatively with AGNR and UM's Office of International Programs; learning the land-grant international structure; and becoming familiar with the role of government and non-governmental organizations in building international projects.

Dr. Varner's IPAN office is located in 1112 Symons Hall, and he can be reached by phone at 5-9589. He will continue as the coordinator of the ANSC undergraduate program during the term of this assignment.

Dr. Varner has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to AGNR's international collaborations with other countries, especially Russia, and I feel confident that he will help to further strengthen and grow the Office of International Programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Dr. Varner receives UMD Landmark International Award

Jan 05, 2009
Dr. MARK VARNER, Dr. ROBERT HILL, Mr. DALE JOHNSON, Mr. BRAD PALEG, and Dr. PAVEL SOROKIN have developed and implemented a multi-faceted program that incorporates distance education technology and subject matter expertise. The group established a distance learning center (RDLC) in Southern Russia that has garnered national recognition for innovation, and through video-teleconference, has brought world-renowned veterinary experts to a province far from Moscow. After nine years of effort, the result has been ground-breaking. This team has helped build the technological capacity of several Russian universities, modernized their curriculum, and created a regional center for education. - Link

Dr. Zimmermann featured on the Discovery Channel

Dec 03, 2008
Follow the link to view the video. - Link