The 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient is Dr. Lurline Marsh. Dr. Marsh will be presenting at our first-ever virtual Kermit Olson Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Her lecture, “From Youth to Undergraduate Experiential Learning: Horticultural Reflections and Experiences from a Teacher" will discuss two big topics: summer programs for youth to promote literacy in horticulture and agriculture, and research internships and experiences for undergraduate students in horticulture and agriculture.
Dr. Marsh received her Ph.D. from the Department of Horticultural Science in 1984 with a focus on vegetable production. After graduation, Dr. Marsh joined the faculty at Lincoln University in Missouri as both professor and department chair, and in 2004, joined the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) as professor and chair.
Many of her projects focus on student success, pulling from her teaching experiences. One of Dr. Marsh’s projects at UMES is her involvement in the development and teaching of the interdisciplinary course, ‘Advanced Technologies in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences’. The course introduces students to computer applications involving geospatial information, precision crop management, plant nutrients, and soil health. Dr. Marsh is passionate about building a curriculum and providing experiential learning opportunities for students studying sustainable agriculture that will enhance students’ communications and problem-solving skills.
Through her many years as a department chair at two different institutions, Dr. Marsh has maintained her humor and her scholarship. We are thrilled to award her the 2021 Department of Horticultural Science Distinguished Alumni Award. Please tune in on March 10, 2021, to congratulate her. Please visit the event page for the Zoom information.