LEXINGTON, KY (May 10th, 2013) - Each year the department sets aside time in the spring semester to celebrate our graduate programs. Part of that celebration is the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Award for a graduate from our programs.  This spring we honored Dr. Michael DeFelice who received his Ph.D. Degree in Weed Science from the University of Kentucky in 1985.

After completing his degree Dr. DeFelice joined the faculty of the Department of Agronomy at the University of Missouri as an Assistant Professor.  There he established an herbicide evaluation and testing field program, taught classes, provided extension service, and conducted weed control research.  He won numerous teaching awards during this period of time, in part for his willingness to incorporate multi-media techniques into his labs.  His commitment to weed identification and education and service are also apparent in his efforts to develop the Southern Weed Science Society’s ‘Weeds of the Southern United States’ CD-ROM/DVD and his co-authoring of two books: Weeds of the South (2009) and Weeds of Midwestern United States and Central Canada (2010).  These materials are widely used for instruction and as a reference for extension personnel and weed scientists.  In 1995 Dr. DeFelice left the University of Missouri to take a position with Pioneer Hi-Bred International, now the largest producer of hybrid seeds for agriculture in the USA.  He is currently their Senior Manager for Global Strategic Planning.

The graduate student awards dinner was held in the Boone Faculty Center on the evening of April 18th.  Professor Emeritus Bill Witt, Michael’s graduate advisor was in attendance to see his former student recognized for his achievements.  The following day, April 19th, Dr. DeFelice presented the Distinguished Alumnus Lecture in the Cameron Williams Lecture Hall.  His seminar was entitled “Seeds and Pests: The Underground War”.  This was an interdisciplinary view on the present and future opportunities and challenges regarding seed technology and delivery and agronomy in general.  The presentation was well attended by faculty, staff and current students from the department and college.  Among the audience was Dr. Dennis Egli from Michael’s Ph.D. review committee.  After the talk a reception was held in the lobby of the Plant Science Building.