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2007 - Bruce C. Clarke

Rutgers News

Contact: Michele Hujber
732-932-7000 ext. 4204
hujber@aesop.rutgers.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007

Center for Turfgrass Science Director to Receive Dennis Fenton Graduate Alumni Award

New Brunswick, NJ--Bruce Clarke, director of the Center for Turfgrass Science at Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, has been selected as this year's winner of the Dennis Fenton Graduate Alumni Awards at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS, formerly Cook College). The award is given to an alumnus whose outstanding accomplishments in his or her professional, civic or volunteer work reflects dignity and distinction upon SEBS. It will be presented to Clarke by Alan Grossman, president of the Cook College Alumni Association, at the 14th Annual "Celebration of Excellence" Awards Ceremony today.

Clarke received his B.S. in forest management from Cook College in 1977 and his Ph.D. in plant pathology from Rutgers Graduate School in 1982. He has been employed at Rutgers since 1981 and has been director of the Center for Turfgrass Science for 13 years. In this capacity, he is responsible for providing leadership to foster internationally recognized research, undergraduate, graduate, and continuing professional education and service programs in support of the turfgrass industry. He is an authority on root-infecting fungi associated with patch diseases of turf and is recognized for his work on the development of integrated disease control strategies to reduce pesticide use.

Clarke was named first occupant of the Ralph Geiger Chair in Turfgrass Science by the Rutgers University Board of Governors in September, 2005. Other recent honors include being named a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and has receiving the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award from the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the New Jersey Turfgrass Association's Hall of Fame Award and the Abraham Weisblat Award from SEBS and NJAES.

Clarke is a frequent speaker at educational conferences throughout the United States and has presented his research to turf managers in Australia, China, Europe, and Japan. Clarke has published two books on turfgrass pathology and has authored numerous articles for professional journals and trade magazines.

The Dennis Fenton Award was created by the Cook College Alumni Association in 2003 to honor alumni from the Rutgers graduate programs offered on the Cook campus.

Rutgers News

Contact: Michele Hujber
732-932-7000 x4204
hujber@aesop.rutgers.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2, 2007

Rutgers University Professor Selected as Fellow of Crop Science Society

New Brunswick, NJ - Bruce B. Clarke has received the honor of Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). The prestigious award was presented at the CSSA Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) on Nov. 12-16 in Indianapolis, IN. It is the highest honor the Society bestows on its members.

Up to 0.3 percent of CSSA's membership base of 4,500 may be elected to Fellow each year, placing Bruce among an elite group of agricultural researchers around the world. Fellows are selected through an intense nomination and review process that analyzes nominees' achievements in education, research, service and leadership.

Bruce Clarke is a professor and vice chair in the Department of Plant Biology and Pathology at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. He also serves as turfgrass pathologist for Cooperative Extension and is the director of the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science. Clarke earned his B.S. degree in forest management and his Ph.D. degree in plant pathology from Rutgers University. His research and extension programs focus on the etiology and control of turfgrass diseases and IPM strategies to reduce fungicide use. Clarke served as an associate editor for Plant Disease, and has been very active in the C-5 Division of the Crop Science Society of America, the American Society of Agronomy, the International Turfgrass Society, the American Phytopathological Society, and the Golf Course Superintendents' Association of America.

Dr. Steven L. Fales, president of CSSA, and professor of agronomy at Iowa State University, said the Society looks for well-rounded, experienced candidates when selecting Fellows.

"CSSA chooses individuals who are committed to, and have excelled in, investigative competency, education, and service," Fales said

CSSA has been selecting outstanding members to the position of Fellow since 1985. Colleagues within the Societies nominate worthy members, and the CSSA Fellows Committee carefully ranks the nominees to make the final selection. CSSA has chosen ten individuals, based on their professional achievements and meritorious service, to receive this honor in 2006.

Rutgers News

Contact: Amanda Kolling
732-932-4537
kolling@aesop.rutgers.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2005

Turfgrass Director Is Confirmed as First Holder of the Geiger Chair

New Brunswick, NJ - Dr. Bruce Clarke, director of Rutgers' Center for Turfgrass Science, has been confirmed as the first occupant of the Ralph Geiger Chair in Turfgrass Science by the Rutgers University Board of Governors.

"Bruce Clarke is an exceptional researcher, a dedicated teacher and a noted authority in his field," said Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick. "As the first holder of the Geiger Chair, Bruce is well equipped to lead the Rutgers Turfgrass Program in its tradition of excellence."

"This distinction is a great compliment not only to Bruce, who has worked tirelessly to make the turfgrass program here at Rutgers' Cook College one of the best in the world, but also to the program itself, which has a sterling reputation for innovation in research and education," said Bob Goodman, dean of Cook College.

The endowed chair was funded by Ralph Geiger, an avid golfer and philanthropist who has donated generously to the Center for Turfgrass Science over the past decade. Income from the nearly $2 million endowment will be used to promote turfgrass teaching, extension and research, Clarke said. At least $20,000 per year will be used to fund undergraduate, graduate and two-year certificate program student scholarships. The investiture is scheduled to take place November 28.

"We will use the funds from the endowed chair to attract and increase the enrollment of top-quality students from around the nation who have an avid interest in turfgrass science," Clarke said. "We will increase internships, sending students all over the world to gain hands-on experience. And we also plan to increase our educational facilities at the Geiger Education Complex on Horticulture Farm II in North Brunswick so that students can continue to learn in a dynamic environment."

"The endowed chair will enable the Center for Turfgrass Science to be at the cutting edge of the industry," said Executive Vice Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources Keith Cooper. "As holder of the Geiger Chair, Bruce will be a leader of exciting new initiatives at the Center."

As director of the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science, Clarke is responsible for providing leadership to foster internationally recognized research, undergraduate, graduate, and continuing professional education and service programs in support of the turfgrass industry, which produces $3.2 billion in annual revenue for New Jersey alone. He is an authority on root-infecting fungi associated with patch diseases of turf and is recognized for his work on the development of integrated disease control strategies to reduce pesticide usage. Clarke has published two books on turfgrass pathology and has authored numerous articles for professional journals and trade magazines. He has recently been named a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, and has received the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award from the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the New Jersey Turfgrass Association's Hall of Fame Award and the Weisblat Award for Excellence in Research, Teaching and Outreach from Rutgers' Cook College and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Clarke is a frequent speaker at educational conferences throughout the United States and has presented his research to turf managers in Australia, China, Europe, and Japan.

Clarke received both his B.S. in forest management and his Ph.D. in plant pathology from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he has been employed since 1981.

Rutgers News

Contact: Michele Hujber
Office of Communications and Public Affairs
732-932-9559
hujber@aesop.rutgers.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2001

Cook College/NJAES honors "across-the-board" excellence

NEW BRUNSWICK/PISCATAWAY, NJ--Bruce B. Clarke was awarded the Abraham Weisblat Award at the eighth annual Cook College/NJAES award ceremony on April 26. The award, the first to be endowed for the recognition of faculty excellence at Cook College, was established in memory of Professor Abraham Weisblat.

The late Professor Abraham Weisblat spent most of his career in the foundation world. At the Rockefeller Foundation, he worked closely with John D. Rockefeller III to develop agricultural research capacity world-wide, develop international cultural exchange programs and promote innovative programs to enhance human capital and capacity. After a lifetime of service at philanthropic and research institutions, he came to Cook College where he helped mentor junior faculty. After Weisblat died in 1998, Dr. Adesoji Adelaja, dean and director of research, worked with Weisblat's family to devise the Weisblat Endowment as a permanent tribute to Abe Weisblat's legacy.

Dr. Clarke received this award in recognition of "across-the-board" excellence in teaching, research, and outreach. Dean Adelaja notes: "Bruce was chosen for this prestigious award for a number of reasons. His research is of very high quality; it is highly needs driven, stakeholder relevant, and problem-solving. His teaching is innovative and has positively shaped the careers of many scholars and professionals in the turfgrass community. He effectively extends the knowledge he creates in his research program to the public."

"Bruce is one of New Jersey's foremost public intellectuals. During his distinguished career, he has developed a well-focused program that integrates excellent research with innovative teaching, and unparalleled outreach and service," notes Adelaja. "His greatest strength is his commitment to his clientele, including growers, agricultural agents, the turfgrass industry, and the public at large. He exemplifies all that an excellent Extension specialist should be."

Dr. Clarke joined the faculty in 1982 as an extension specialist in plant pathology. In 1993, he was appointed interim director of the Center for Turfgrass Science and became director in 1994. In 1999, he also became chair of the Department of Plant Pathology.

"Abe Weisblat came to Rutgers because he wanted to spend his retirement helping junior faculty to become well-rounded intellectuals," says Adelaja. "He encouraged us to be sensitive to the needs of our students and the broader society. Dr. Clarke personifies Abe's vision of a land-grant scholar. This award will provide an incentive and a structure for encouraging faculty to fulfill the mission of the college and station."