Personnel

The following individuals contribute to the Turfgrass Culture and Physiology program through research, education, and administration.

Faculty

Erik Ervin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
ervin@vt.edu
(540) 231-5208
335 Smyth Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061

 Research Interests:
  • Improving turf tolerance to environmental stresses such as freezing, heat, drought, salinity, and traffic
  • Organic (biostimulants) and synthetic plant growth regulators
  • Organic and synthetic approaches to turfgrass fertility for adequate turfgrass performance and conserved environmental quality
  • Water conservation, irrigation scheduling, and wetting agents
    		•

    Mike Goately, Jr., Ph.D.
    Associate Professor
    (540) 231-2951
    424 Smyth Hall
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    		 Research Interests:
  • Extension
  • Low input bermudagrass
  • Sports turf maintenance
    		•

    Research Personnel

    Xunzhong Zhang, Ph.D.
    Research Scientist
    xuzhang@vt.edu
    (540) 231-3684
    351A Smyth Hall
    Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

    		 Research Interests:
  • Turfgrass stress physiology and molecular biology
  • Hormone, antioxidant, and protein metabolisms associated with plant defenses against stresses
  • Turfgrass growth and metabolic regulation
  • Turf management for golf course and sports fields

    • Kevin Hensler, M.S.
    Research Associate
    (540) 231-9527
    427 Smyth Hall
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    		Research Interests:
  • Roadside management
    		•

    Whitnee Askew, M.S.
    Turfgrass Program Manager
    (540) 231-7624
    427 Smyth Hall
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    		Research Interests:
  • NTEP trial maintenance
    		•

    Graduate Students

    Adrienne LaBranche
    Ph.D. student
    (540) 818-1241
    Architecture Annex
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    		 Research Interests:
  • Drought
  • Water conservation
  • Water planning
  • Landscape irrigation
  • Research survey
    		•

    Kehua Wang
    Ph.D. student
    Smyth Hall
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    		 Research Interests:
  • Turfgrass physiology
    		•

    Adam Nichols
    M.S. student
    Hampton Roads Ag. Res. and Ext. Center

    		 Research Interests:
  • Turfgrass culture
  • Nutrient fate
    		•

    Nick McKenna
    M.S. student
    Smyth Hall
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    		Research Interests:
  • Sports turf

    • Support Personnel

    Frederick 'Dickie' Shepherd
    Senior Field Technician
    (540) 231-6113
    Turfgrass Research Center
    615 Southgate Dr.
    Blacksburg,Virginia 24061

    Cathy Atkinson
    Program Support Technician
    (540) 231-6482
    367 Smyth Hall
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    Kim McCoy
    Administrative and Office Specialist
    (540) 231-5797
    424 Smyth Hall
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    Allied Personnel

    Shawn Askew
    Associate Professor, Extension Turfgrass Weed Specialist
    (540) 231-5807
    Glade Road Research Center
    203 PMB Building
    Blacksburg, VA 24061

    Brandon Horvath
    Assistant Professor: Plant Pathology
    (757) 363-3884
    Hampton Roads Ag. Res. and Ext. Center
    1444 Diamond Springs Road
    Virginia Beach, VA 23455

    Jeffrey Derr
    Professor: Weed Science
    (757) 363-3912
    Hampton Roads Ag. Res. and Ext. Center
    1444 Diamond Springs Road
    Virginia Beach, VA 23455

    Rod Youngman
    Professor and Extension Specialist: Entolomology
    (540) 231- 9118
    308 Price Hall
    Blacksburg, VA 24061