Departmental News & Events


On Friday, August 22, HLA participated in the College of Agriculture’s BGR Carnival, an exciting welcome event for incoming students. Representing HLA were Dr. Kathryn Orvis, Rachael Carter, and HLA Ambassador Katelyn Rockey, who brought energy and enthusiasm to the festivities. The HLA table was a hit, featuring the Watermelon Card Ninja game and a…Read more about Slice, Dice, and Say Hello – HLA Goes Ninja at BGR Carnival[Read More]


Please join us in celebrating the achievements of George Meyer (PhD/Dr. Josh Widhalm), Moyeed Talukder (MS/Dr. Moriah Bilenky), and Mya Hagerty (MS/Dr. Yiwei Huang), who graduated this August. We’re proud of their hard work and wish them continued success in their next chapters!



Hi! My name is Rachael Carter and I am the new Student Success Specialist in the Undergraduate Student Services office. I am very excited to be here in HLA with all of you! I moved here from Pensacola, Florida about nine years ago leaving behind a career of seventeen years in Healthcare and Graduate Medical…Read more about Welcome Rachael Carter![Read More]


Who: HLA Undergraduate Students, Faculty, and Staff working with Undergraduates Where: HORT Circle Drive When: September 2nd, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM What: Meet & Greet, Dinner, and Activities with Prizes Join us for an evening of connection and celebration as we kick off the new academic year! This is a great opportunity to welcome…Read more about Save the Date – Undergraduate Welcome Back Event[Read More]


This week marked the second session of Grandparents University, where 44 enthusiastic grandparents and grandchildren joined Karen Mitchell and Vicki Stirm for a hands-on floral experience. The session began with an introduction to the HLA, highlighting exciting career paths and programs like Consumer Horticulture and the Master Gardener initiative. Participants then dove into the ever-popular…Read more about Vicki Stirm and Karen Mitchell Hosts Second Week of Grandparents University[Read More]


On July 15th, Vicki Stirm and Karen Mitchell hosted 29 folks of Caleb’s Kin group from Faith East Ministries of Lafayette for a garden tour of the Jules Janick Hort Gardens. We talked about different plants in the landscape, as well as talking about the Bioswale on the corner of the Pao lot and the…Read more about Vicki Stirm and Karen Mitchell Host Jules Janick Horticulture Garden Tour[Read More]



GEORGE MEYER Major Professor: Dr. Joshua Widhalm PhD DEFENSE SEMINAR July 23rd @ 1:00 PM Room: HORT 222 “Biochemical Investigations into the Phytotoxicity, Metabolism, and Agricultural Applications of Juglon” Abstract: Plant specialized 1,4-naphthoquinones are a class of metabolites that mediate diverse plant-biotic interactions. Their convergent evolution across multiple plant lineages highlights the significance of their…Read more about PhD Defense Seminar – George Meyer[Read More]


Student gardeners MJ Smith and Matt Schaller have been hard at work preparing one of the new plant containers in the Jules Janick Horticulture Garden. Over the next few weeks, visitors will notice more of these containers appearing throughout the space. Designed to showcase a wider variety of plants—including annuals, perennials, shrubs, and even small…Read more about New Additions Coming to the Jules Janick Horticulture Garden[Read More]


Page last modified: July 18, 2025

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