Faculty, students recognized at horticulture conference

School of Integrative Plant Science
Horticulture Section

Faculty and students in School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) received numerous awards and recognitions at the 2025 Annual Conference of American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), July 28-August 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana:

Marvin Pritts

Marvin Pritts, received the Outstanding Undergraduate Educator Award. Pritts is a professor in the Horticulture Section and recently stepped down from his leadership role as Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Plant Sciences major.

Julianna Rose

Julianna Rose, Plant Sciences undergrad, was named one of 16 Outstanding Undergraduate students based on academic achievement, leadership, participation in campus/club activities, and service.

Lena Wilson

Lena Wilson, graduate student in the Weber Lab, won first place in the PhD Student Poster Competition

Oksana Bihun

Oksana Bihun, graduate student in the Peck Lab, placed third in the Masters Student Poster Competition.

Jim Giovannoni,

Jim Giovannoni, professor at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Adjunct Professorin SIPS Plant Biology Section, delivered the keynote address, “Biotechnology, Genomics and Opportunities for Horticultural Science.”

Gennaro Fazio, adjunct associate professor, Horticulture Section, and research geneticist with the USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Geneva, NY was recognized as the winner of the American Pomological Society's Wilder Medal for outstanding service, recognizing not only his many direct accomplishments, but also how he has strengthened the whole field of pomology through his outreach, collaboration and commercialization.

Casey Barickman, who will join the Horticulture Section faculty as a vegetable crop physiologist in mid-August, was elected to be Vice President for the Research Division of the Board of Directors.

Neil Mattson, Horticulture Section professor, chaired the controlled environment professional interest group and co-coordinated the graduate student oral competition (36 entries over 8 sessions) he and his graduate students Ava Forystek and Abby Pace all three of gave presentations in controlled environment sessions.

Professor Emeritus Thomas Björkman was involved with several groups to develop advocacy efforts, including the ASHS Leadership Fellows team -- part of the National Issues Committee that he founded in 2007. (Casey Barickman was elected chair and Björkman and Greg Peck are members.)

The Cornell contingent of graduate students, post-doctoral associates and faculty contributed more than a dozen presentations at the conference.

Greg Peck, Marvin Pritts, Neil Mattson, Thomas Björkman and Craig Cramer contributed to this article.