Geneva, New York
September 26, 2001
By John Zakour
Thomas Burr has been appointed the chairman of the department of
plant pathology at Cornell University at the New York State
Agricultural Experiment Station, in Geneva, NY, effective
September 1. He replaces outgoing chair, Helene Dillard, who has
accepted the position of
associate director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, in Ithaca.
"Tom has been a productive member of the department of plant
pathology for 24 years," said Station director James E. Hunter.
"He understands the mission of the Station, and has great
loyalty to Cornell. His range of experience will be helpful as
he assumes this important role. I am confident he will provide
the leadership the department needs to remain a productive and
cohesive unit, and I look forward to working with him."
When asked about his thoughts on becoming chairman, Burr said,
""I am very pleased to have this
opportunity. For many years our department has been recognized
as one of the best and it is an
honor to assume a leadership role."
Burr's main goal for the department will be to continue to help
provide an environment within the
department and interactions with other departments at the
Station that are conducive for excellence in research, extension
and graduate student training. "Our programs are quite diverse
in plant pathology. We need to maintain a balance between
applied and basic research so that we can provide answers to
disease problems for the agriculture industry of New York," he
said.
Burr feels the department's main strengths are the work ethic,
enthusiasm and friendliness of the entire department. "Our
faculty and staff are highly productive. Graduate students and
postdocs are becoming an important part of our department and
add greatly to the productivity and overall
environment. We are doing some outstanding research and it is
great to see people who are excited about being a part of it."
Burr received his B.S. in Agricultural Science with emphasis in
plant pathology from the University of Arizona in 1971, and his
M.S. in Plant Pathology in 1973, also from Arizona. He received
his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of California,
Berkeley, in 1978. His research and extension deals with
diseases of fruit crops with an emphasis on bacterial diseases.
Major projects include the biology and control of grape crown
gall, development of transgenic grapes for disease resistance,
and determining mechanisms of fungal-induced apple russet. His
extension efforts include support of field extension staff on
fruit disease diagnosis and control.
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