Category: Plant and Soil Sciences
Plant pathology students organize UD’s first Carroll Symposium
February 11, 2025 Written by Molly Schafer | Photos courtesy of Nicole Donofrio and Jill Pollok
University of Delaware graduate students Lauren Irwin, Shiv Singla and Adelaide Mullin planned and organized the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences’ first Carroll Symposium of Plant Pathology. The student-led symposium, which occurred in November, was possible thanks to a generous donation made in honor of Bob Carroll, emeritus professor of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“Dr. Carroll's commitment to plant pathology and his dedication to teaching and research prompted the donor to make this very generous gift,” said Nicole Donofrio, professor of plant pathology.
Donofrio, who filled Carroll’s position when he retired, said the funds have supported students in several ways. In addition to the symposium, the department held a small grant panel for graduate students. Students applied to receive funds to support supplies and travel for their graduate research.
“Having a symposium named for me is a great honor,” Carroll said. “I am grateful to all the faculty, staff and students who made the event so special.”
Donofrio, Alyssa Betts, associate professor and extension specialist of plant pathology, and Jill Pollok, plant diagnostician, served as advisors, providing invaluable support to Irwin, Singla and Mullin. The students chose the theme “Navigating the Paths of Plant Pathology” with an eye to the future as they will soon embark on their own career paths.
“We wanted to have keynote speakers with different backgrounds in the field,” said Mullin, a UD graduate student in plant and soil sciences. You can take many career paths in plant pathology, and we wanted to hear more about them.”
UD alumna Juliet Marshall, associate director of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station
at the University of Idaho, Sydney Everhart, department head and associate professor at the University of Connecticut, and Tim Brenneman, professor of peanut and pecan disease management at the University of Georgia, gave inspiring keynotes on their diverse careers.
Irwin said listening to the speeches helped fine-tune her career plan.
“Hearing the difference between roles within extension and research positions helped me to clarify what type of role I want in the future,” Irwin said.
Speakers discussed their shifting responsibilities throughout their careers. These insights lessened the pressure students place on finding a perfect fit with their first job.
“It was inspiring to hear that we don't have to stay in just one role our entire career,” said Singla. “We heard how others went from research scientists to administrative or college leadership roles. We can figure out our paths as we grow.”
Planning for the symposium began in July. The two-day event, held at the Courtyard Marriott in Newark, was held in conjunction with the 77th annual NJDelMarVaPa Extension Meeting. Industry professionals. Current and retired faculty from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Cooperative Extension agents, alumni and current students were in attendance.
“Holding the extension meeting and the symposium together brought a more diverse audience to the students," Betts said. “This was a way to bring in more professionals to broaden student networks.”
The symposium's second day included a research presentation competition for students and early career professionals. Extension meeting attendees stayed to listen, and the audience was larger than anticipated.
“I did not think so many people were going to be there for the competition portion,” said Mullin. “I was nervous, but it was good practice.”
The challenge was to present your research to a general audience in three minutes using only one slide.
“The talk challenged me to think about my research from a different perspective,” said Singla, who studies soil-borne pathogens. “Why is my research important, why are we doing this research, and how will it help the general public stakeholders or farmers.”
Carroll enjoyed listening to the student presentations and seeing the winners receive monetary rewards.
“It made me realize that plant pathology is in ‘good hands’ with this young generation,” Carroll said.
Reunions and a homecoming
After months of planning and overseeing travel, hospitality, scheduling and invitations, the student organizers enjoyed the company of their colleagues at a social event held as part of the symposium.
“It was so loud you could barely talk to the person sitting next to you,” Irwin recalled. “Everybody was in great spirits and having a good time.”
The social hour was a homecoming for keynote speaker Juliet Marshall, a UD alumna who Carroll advised when she was a student.
The students enjoyed watching Carroll and Marshall's reunion. Tom Evans, UD emeritus professor, Nancy Gregory, retired director of the UD Plant Diagnostic Clinic and Bob Mulroney, retired extension plant pathologist, were happy to reunite with Carroll.
The students were flabbergasted to learn how many symposium attendees, including the other keynote speakers, knew the symposium’s namesake.
“It was difficult to get into a conversation with Dr. Carroll because everybody wanted to talk to him,” Mullin said.
Carroll enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with the UD community.
“A highlight was hearing my former graduate student, Dr. Juliet Marshall, give her keynote address and learning how successful she has been during her career,” Carroll said. “It was also special to meet the other keynote speakers, Drs. Tim Brenneman and Sydney Everhart, and to reconnect with several of my former colleagues.”
“That I may have made a difference through many years of teaching and advising is what gives the Carroll Symposium meaning to me,” Carroll added.
The students also found the symposium meaningful. During the keynote speeches, Mullin looked around the room.
“I saw all these people, people we invited, who agreed to come and made the symposium a success. It was a special thing,” she said.
The Plant and Soil Sciences department plans to host future Carroll Symposiums at least every two years.
Learn more about the UD Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.