The Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (LIHREC), part of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), is pleased to announce the appointment of Nora J. Catlin as director, effective April 21.
Benjamin Z. Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS, praised Catlin’s leadership and expertise as invaluable assets to the Long Island agricultural industry.
“Nora’s dedication to the CALS Land-Grant mission, coupled with her deep understanding of Long Island agriculture and her robust connections within the local agricultural community, will lay a strong foundation for guiding LIHREC—and the agriculture it supports—towards a prosperous future,” said Houlton.
Prior to this role, Catlin served as interim director at LIHREC and held the position of agricultural program leader at Suffolk County Cornell Cooperative Extension since 2016.
As director, Catlin will harness LIHREC's extensive expertise to bolster Long Island agriculture. Positioned as a crucial research hub in Riverhead, NY, LIHREC aids growers in remaining resilient and competitive amidst changing climate and market conditions. Catlin’s leadership will be instrumental in fostering a vibrant Long Island economy, where agriculture thrives and significantly contributes to the community's prosperity.
Catlin earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from The Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts. For the past twenty years, her primary focus has been on commercial floriculture, and she intends to continue her research and extension efforts in this field alongside her administrative responsibilities.
“I am deeply honored to serve as director of LIHREC, and I am more inspired than ever by the remarkable science and impact of our research and extension efforts,” Catlin said. “The need for agricultural research, outreach, and education has never been greater. Our unwavering commitment to science-based solutions at LIHREC positions us to tackle some of the most significant challenges facing Long Island agriculture.”
Margery Daughtrey is a senior extension associate at LIHREC.
