Guiping Yan
Department of Plant Pathology

Dr. Yan’s research has significantly advanced the science of plant nematology at a high level and helped to solve numerous real-world crop disease problems faced by farmers in North Dakota and other regions of the world. Yan’s research has focused on detection and management of plant-parasitic nematodes, an important group of pests that affect the production of field crops. Her nematode surveys led to the first discovery of 10 new species occurring in the region, including two new, unnamed root-lesion nematode species. Yan has helped generate more than $12.9 million in grants, authored or co-authored 65 refereed journal articles and three book chapters and made 141 presentations.

Marisol Berti
Department of Plant Sciences

Dr. Berti’s forage and biomass crop production program aims to improve existing forage production practices, to introduce and evaluate biomass crops as a new bioenergy component of existing cropping systems, and to evaluate the impact of forages in intercropping. Her program impacts the state economy by increasing yield for alfalfa and other forages, decreasing nitrogen rates in cash crops, increasing soil health and crop yields, and providing additional forage for fall grazing. Berti has authored or co-authored 89 refereed journal articles and eight book chapters, made 98 presentations and helped generate more than $22.5 million in grants.

Anuradha Vegi
Department of Plant Sciences

Dr. Vegi uses various teaching techniques to reach students with diverse learning styles. She incorporates active learning, including student-led presentations in her food fermentation course. This allows students to practice teamwork, develop a new fermented product, conduct an experiment on the new product, analyze and interpret data, and present to their peers.  She participates in pedagogical meetings and professional workshops to learn new subject content, master it and update the knowledge base in her field. In addition, Vegi is the advisor for the Food Science and Food Safety Club. Her students say she is compassionate and goes out of her way to make sure they have the help they need to succeed.

Birgit Pruess
Department of Microbiological Sciences

As a part of the Gateways-ND program, Dr. Pruess developed eight active learning exercises, which she incorporated into MICR 480/680. One of the exercises used pasta to explain the impact of diet on the gut microbiome. This simple exercise is enhanced by a review article that specifies which bacteria are predominant in response to a certain diet. In addition to using active learning to inspire students, she uses backward design concepts to enhance objectiveness of evaluation. Each exercise is linked to the course objectives and the link is clearly articulated in the assignment instructions. Her students understand why they have to learn the topic and what topics to expect on the test. They say her mentorship and guidance have grown their ability to think scientifically.

Jack Norland
School of Natural Resource Sciences (Natural Resources Management)

Dr. Norland has been advising undergraduate and graduate students in the Natural Resources Management program since 2008. Norland averages 35 undergraduates each semester, and his graduate advising includes 15 master of science students, 15 master of natural resources management students and five doctoral students. He takes the time to get to know each student individually and understand their career goals, needs and struggles. He works hard to provide additional opportunities for his students through a robust undergraduate research effort. He also helps create networking opportunities that allow students to make connections to the real world. His advisees say that his leadership helps them succeed in their education and future careers.

Julianne Racine
LaMoure County Extension

Julianne Racine diligently listens to county residents, brings their concerns or questions to specialists, and then shares information from the specialists with her county, demonstrating the value of research-based science. Each year, Racine hosts an Ag Safety Day that includes pesticide safety and grain bin entrapment programs. Her programs are interactive and flexible enough to accommodate all ages. Her impact also can be seen in her recent programming: Planting, Pruning, Pests and Pestilence: A Drive-through Tree Workshop. Using an FM transmitter, she delivered information about trees directly into participant’s vehicles while driving around a park. “Without Julianne’s guidance, there would have been no possible path for me to accomplish my agricultural goals,” wrote one of her county residents.

Dean Aakre
NDSU Extension Center for 4-H Youth Development

Dean creates high-quality, transformational learning experiences for both youth and adults that result in positive change across the communities in North Dakota. Aakre teaches a wide variety of programming to youth and adults, including leadership, agriculture and civic engagement, and he delivers research-based education to learners of all ages in a way that is engaging and lively. More important than the content of his programs, however, are the essential life skills he helps youth develop. He is a team player, collaborating with NDSU Extension specialists and agents across agriculture and natural resources, family and community wellness, and 4-H youth development to carry out effective programming.

Collin Auwarter
Department of Plant Sciences

Collin Auwarter conducts research, experiments and investigations to determine best practices for growing specialty crops in the field and greenhouse. He is active in collecting, managing, analyzing and interpreting the field, lab and greenhouse data. His field work involves tillage, planting, irrigation, general crop production, plot establishment, pesticide application, harvesting and general record keeping. He is devoted to finding solutions and discovering opportunities that enhance the quality of life, sustain food production and protect the land of North Dakota. He demonstrates his knowledge of different production systems and unique maintenance practices throughout the year in his role with the high-value crops project, one of the most diverse research projects on campus.

Jerie Little
Department of Microbiolgical Sciences

Jerie Little is dependable, organized and always ready to help. In addition to administrative duties, she assists undergraduate and graduate students, and makes travel arrangements for all faculty, staff, students and speakers. She prepares documentation for records retention, completes yearly parking authorization, assists with the scholarship application process, and coordinates the advisor list for undergraduate students. She also designs and distributes seminar notices, gathers and assembles the annual report, and makes website updates. Little has stepped in to assist with payroll, time-slip entries and preparation of 101 forms, and ordering and processing invoices for payment. She took the initiative to learn the new skills she needed while keeping up with her usual duties and professionalism.

Diane Ness
Agriculture Communication

Diane Ness has demonstrated versatility and adaptability throughout her career at NDSU. She played a key role when her unit, then known as Document Publishing, merged with Agriculture Communication’s print shop to become Print and Copy Services. At various points, she has been responsible for customer service, machine operating, bindery, budgeting and accounting, personnel management and equipment acquisition. Ness currently is responsible for customer service and marketing, serves as the administrator for the web-based job submissions application, leads troubleshooting on 160 campus walk-up copiers, and maintains and determines equipment replacements. She also provides administrative support for Agriculture Communication. Her customer service skills, positive attitude and technical expertise are an asset to both customers and teammates alike.