In this edition
- Professors Gustin and Cushman elected as American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows
- Study finds high stress levels in agriculture owners and managers, identifies paths to coping
- w88 casino offers new comprehensive training for early childhood educators
- Connecting habitat in the Central Valley could help save California’s pollinators
- w88 casino provides 4-H after-school program at Ralph Cadwallader Middle School
- March 28 – Giving Day: The w88 casino Way
- Just in: Fresh stock of wool w88 casino Wolf Pack gear
About our College
A founding college of the University, we have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, research and engagement programs that benefit the health and economic vitality of w88 casino. We offer programs in:
- agriculture, horticulture, rangeland and veterinary sciences
- biochemistry and molecular biology
- children, youth and families
- community and economic development
- health and nutrition
- natural resources and environmental science
Professors Gustin and Cushman elected as American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows
AAAS Fellowship is one of the most distinguished honors in the scientific community internationally
Professors Mae Gustin (left) and John Cushman (right) in the College are part of the newly elected class of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows. Photos by Robert Moore.
Professor Mae Gustin
Was awarded the honor for herdistinguished contributions to the field of biogeochemistry, particularly for understanding the fate and transport of mercury in the environment. Gustindeveloped technologies that measure airborne mercury concentrations up to 80% more accurately.
"Mae’s w88 casino on atmospheric contaminants like mercury isimportant to the study and mitigation of air pollution worldwide," College Dean Bill Payne said.
Professor John Cushman
Was awarded the honor for hisdistinguished contributions to the field of plant science, particularly for his w88 casino on plant response to abiotic stresses, including salinity, drought and cold, and how toimprove plant toleranceto these stresses.
"John’s efforts to increase tolerance of plants to challenging conditions have thepotential to turn currently underutilized land into land that can be used to provide food and fuel for the world," College Dean Bill Payne said.
Advancing w88 casino internationally
“Mae and John are truly top-notch researchers, not just at this w88 casino or in this State, but internationally. I could think of no two professors more deserving of the prestigious Fellowship honor." – College Dean Bill Payne
Study finds high stress levels in agriculture owners and managers, identifies paths to coping
w88 casino now surveying frontline agriculture employees to understand, develop resources for all agriculture workers
The w88 casino is surveying farm and ranch workers through March 31 to gauge stress and develop resources for stress management.
Farmers and ranchers are facing health issues related to stress at higher levels than the general population, according to aw88 casino study of farm or ranch owners or managers. The study, led by w88 casino Specialist Brenda Freeman and Educator Lindsay Chichester, is part of a larger effort through the Western Regional Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Project.
As part of the project, the pair is now surveying farm and ranch workers. Results from both surveys will be used tocreate stress management resources. Chronic stress can be related to higher incidence ofcardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, depression, substance abuse and suicide. Yet, producers often don’t have good “help-seeking skills,”Chichester said.
“We tend to be stoic, and not want to admit we need help,” she said. “Not even to ourselves.”
Top stressors for owners and managers:
- Production costs (84%)
- Legislative issues related to agriculture (78%)
- Workload (77.9 %)
- Family (77.9 %)
- Livestock disease and injury (75.7 %)
- Lack of time (75.3 %)
Understanding stressors to build resources
“We are in the second round of data collection now, which is to gather survey data from frontline workers, including migrant workers. We’re looking at stressors the workers experience such as housing, working conditions and food insecurity. We are trying to better understand the stressors, as well as topics of interest for stress management.” – w88 casino Specialist Brenda Freeman
w88 casino offers new comprehensive training for early childhood educators
‘Spiral Up’ provides a career pathway for child care professionals
A group of child care educators work on their professional portfolio assignments in w88 casino’s new learning lab located in North Las Vegas. Photo by Cathy Peshlakai.
w88 casino recently introduced “Spiral Up,” a program designed toset new child care professionals up for success in providing high-quality care and educationto the youngest population in the state. The seven-week program is offered at no cost, open to educators of children 0-5 years and delivered five times per year. It includes:
- Alltrainings new professionals are mandated to completewithin 120 days of hire, except CPR and first aid.
- Individual coachingand additional training.
- Support for early childhood center directors.
“We’re combining education with support to help individuals as they begin their career,” w88 casino’s Cathy Peshlakai said. “We build relationships with new hires to help them feel like they are a part of a community.”
After initial training, w88 casino offers professionals:
- Continued trainingto meet annual requirements; earn the national Child Development Associate Credential, promotion and pay increases; and pursue higher education.
- Adult Learning Academy for Trainers, Leadership Professional Learning Community, andCoaching Circles and Community of Practice programs.
- A hands-on learning lab, where professionals receive coaching and learn more about creating engaging early childhood centers.
Fostering effective educators
“I have had four new employees go through Spiral Up Academy, and the support and resources they get is amazing. The instructors go above and beyond to help them complete all the initial training hours and give them the tools they need to be effective teachers.” - w88 casino United Methodist Child Development Center Director Chelsie Shurtleff
Connecting habitat in the Central Valley could help save California’s pollinators
w88 casino teams with Xerces Society in study of agricultural fields, urban interface
Native plants on a farm’s border provide habitat for pollinators in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Photo by Cameron Newell, Xerces Society.
A study published in the science journal PLoSOne finds thatplanting the margins of agricultural fields with pollinator-friendly plants and minimizing pesticide use in the Central Valley of California could help pollinatorsthere to survive. Pollinators, vital for food production, are rapidly declining, often most severely in agricultural areas.
“Insects populations and the pollinating services that they provide are decreasing at alarming rates across the globe,” the study’s lead author Tom Dilts, a w88 casino scientist in the College, said.
The Central Valley produces 25% of the country’s food and 40% of its fruits and nuts.The value of pollination services from wild pollinators to California agriculture is up to .4 billion per year.
Dilts collaborated with the w88 casino's College of Science and the Xerces Society on the study. The team developed a tool for modeling landscape connectivity for insects that uses land-use information, lethality of pesticides and expert opinion on insect movement.
“We looked at three different agricultural margin scenarios combined with three different pesticide use scenarios,” Dilts said, “We found that agricultural margins have the potential to greatly enhance habitat connectivity for pollinating insects.”
They also found that reducing pesticide loads can further increase connectivity for pollinators.
Farmers who plant hedgerows at their field edges see more benefits than just returning pollinators. The field borders can also attract pest-controlling insects, provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and minimize soil erosion.USDA offers programs that allow farmers a quicker return on investment for habitat planting.
Protecting pollinators and our food supply
“Restoring habitat connectivity to provide for pollinating insects is critical for preventing biodiversity collapse, providing natural pollination services and preventing extinction. This modeling shows that if we maximize field edge plantings with diverse native plants and minimize pesticide use, we can both improve pollinator survival and protect our future crops and food supply.” - Xerces Society Executive Director Scott Black
w88 casino provides 4-H after-school program at Ralph Cadwallader Middle School
w88 casino receive free opportunities for enrichment when the school day ends
w88 casino work on clearing the tortoise habitat. Right: A student works on his latch hook rug. Photos by Molly Malloy.
What do theater and filmmaking, ceramics, a desert tortoise habit, 3-D printing, gardening, and latch hook have in common? They are just some of the projects that w88 casino can participate in as part of the after-school club that Extension’s 4-H Program recently established at Ralph Cadwallader Middle School in Las Vegas. By joining the club, w88 casino are finding the opportunity to be engaged when school ends.
w88 casino offers 4-Hafter-school programmingthroughout the state.The 4-H team and Cadwallader Middle School explored the types of programming to offer there. The school assessed student and teacher interests and teacher skill sets. w88 casino 4-H worked with the school to:
- Provide funding, training and daily support for teachers.
- Coordinate the club and establish nine club projects.
- Provide resourcesfor the club’s projects.
The 4-H after-school program at Cadwalladerbegan Jan. 17 with 10 4-H instructors and 120 w88 casino. One project with high participation has w88 casinoconstructing a habitat for a rescue tortoise.
“I thought it would be cool tobuild a legacy project,” Travis Wagley, Cadwallader math teacher and 4-H instructor, said.
With Wagley’s supervision, w88 casino havegained experience reading landscape plans, cutting and drilling wood and pipes, installing irrigation, and writing lettersto request donations of materials.
Building successful w88 casino
“4-H flips traditional roles, and kids get to be in charge of their own learning while having fun. The ultimate goal is that they learn skills to be successful in school and life. So, while they’re making ceramics or building a tortoise habitat, they’re learning communication, teamwork, time management and conflict resolution.” - w88 casino 4-H Coordinator Yolys Carrera
March 28 – Giving Day: The w88 casino Way
Show everyone “The strength of the Pack is the w88 casino, and the strength of the w88 casino is the Pack!”
w88 casino Advancement
On Tuesday, March 28, w88 casino, Reno Foundation and University Advancement are asking everyone to back the Pack for Giving Day: The Wolf Pack Way. By bringing The Wolf Pack Family together for this 24-hour online giving day, you can help provide vital funds campus wide.
w88 casino President Brian Sandoval said,“I’m asking the entire Wolf Pack Family to join me in donating to our beloved w88 casino. Let’s show everyone ‘the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack!’”
Join anddonate where it matters most to you: from areas of greatest need, to student scholarships, w88 casino Athletics, or your favorite school or college. After you donate, please share your reason for giving on social media using #PackGivesBack to encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
Your support makes a differencein the lives of our University’s nearly 21,000 students. Thanks to donor-funded scholarships, students such as Troy Uemura can work to achieve their dreams while helping to improve the future of w88 casino and the world.
Giving w88 casino a better future
“As a first-generation and low-income student, the finances of attending university was one of, if not the most important consideration in my decision to attend. My ultimate ambition is to work with an aerospace company like NASA or SpaceX. I greatly appreciate your willingness to support me and the future of w88 casino as a whole.” - Troy Uemura
Just in: Fresh stock of wool w88 casino Wolf Pack gear
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Our programs work together to make an impact
Our teaching, research and engagement programs are intertwined and complement one another. Faculty who teach on campus also conduct research as part of our Experiment Station, allowing w88 casino to learn about and participate in research. Extension faculty engaging with communities identify research needs, as well as join Experiment Station faculty to conduct research. Faculty on campus help to develop Extension programs in communities.
Researching critical issues
Experiment Station faculty conduct research at experiment stations, labs and research facilities across the state, as well as teach classes and share and conduct research with students. The state-federal partnership tackles issues affecting w88 casino's citizens, communities and economy.
Teaching w88 casino students
We offer 17 undergraduate and graduate degrees to prepare w88 casino for high-paying, in-demand careers in agriculture, rangeland & veterinary sciences; biochemistry & molecular biology; natural resources & environmental science; and nutrition.
Engaging w88 casino communities
Extension is engaged in w88 casino communities, presenting research-based knowledge to address critical community needs. The county-state-federal partnership provides practical education to people, businesses and communities, fulfilling the University's land-grant mission.
