Faculty, staff, and students gathered at the Beck Agricultural Center on August 19 for the annual HLA Department Retreat. The day provided an opportunity to reflect on accomplishments from the past year, discuss challenges and opportunities ahead, and strengthen connections across the department.
The retreat began with welcome remarks and an overview of the day’s activities from Department Head Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi, followed by a presentation from Ron Turco, Associate Dean for Graduate Research and Education. Updates on graduate programs, undergraduate education, and Extension activities were shared by Ying Li, Kathryn Orvis, and Ashley Adair, respectively.
Participants also explored the growing role of artificial intelligence in professional settings during a session led by Eric Biggs. Following lunch, attendees took part in a team-building activity facilitated by Colleen before concluding the day with strategic planning discussions focused on departmental priorities for the coming year.
Throughout the retreat, attendees had the opportunity to visit a flower station organized by Wenjing Guan, where participants created bouquets to take home. The retreat reinforced HLA’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and continued growth as the department looks toward the year ahead