Pictures are linked to hi-res scans Helene Dillard, professor of plant pathology at Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY. CREDIT: J. Ogrodnick/NYSAES/Cornell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 1, 2006
Contact: Linda McCandless, llm3@cornell.edu, 607-254-5137

Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Named APS Fellow

By Timothy P. Krakowiak

GENEVA, NY: Helene Dillard, professor of plant pathology at Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY, was recently elected a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society (APS). Dillard was honored for her distinguished contributions to the field of plant pathology at the international organization's 98th annual meeting held July 29 - August 2 in Québec City, Québec.

"This is one of the highest honors of the society and reflects the great respect that plant pathologists worldwide have for Helene as a scientist, educator, and leader," said Experiment Station director Thomas J. Burr. "She has maintained a world-class research program throughout her career and at the same time has served most effectively as a department chair, associate director, and now director of Cornell Cooperative Extension. The university and our stakeholders benefit greatly from Helene's skills and strong work ethic."

Recognition as an APS fellow is based on significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: original research, teaching, administration, professional and public service, and/or extension and outreach. Dillard's work fulfills all of the criteria. 

Dillard joined the Station's faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology in 1984 with research and extension responsibilities for vegetable crops. Her research program focuses on the biology, ecology, and management of fungal pathogens of vegetable crops. Emphasis is placed on the epidemiology of foliar pathogens, sustainable disease management strategies, disease management in transitional and organic cropping systems, control of pathogens in greenhouse vegetable crops, and culinary and medicinal herb diseases.

In 2001 she became associate director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, overseeing all of the agricultural extension programs within the university. In less than a year she was selected for the position of director, overseeing 1,700 employees with an annual system budget of $120,000,000.

Born, raised, and educated on the West Coast, Dillard received a B.S. in biology of natural resources in 1977 from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.S. in soil science, and a Ph.D. in plant pathology, both from the University of California at Davis in 1979 and 1984.

APS is a non-profit, professional, scientific organization dedicated to the study and control of plant diseases.

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Related Links:
Helene Dillard's Faculty Web Page
American Phytopathological Society

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