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Personnel
Meet the people who make it happen at VERC
Together, our teaching and research faculty and staff work as a team to serve the students and industry. Our faculty and staff are recognized nationally and internationally in their fields of expertise. They remain active in professional organizations, are called upon to make presentations at industry meetings, work collaboratively with other institutions, and publish their findings in scientific journals. Many have authored leading books and/or have been featured in industry related periodicals.
Dr. Robert L. Wample is the Julio Gallo Director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center and Chairman of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at California State University, Fresno. In 1987 assumed the viticulture research position at Washington State University's Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser, WA. Chateau Ste Michelle Distinguished Professor of Viticulture in 1995- 2000. Areas of research include the effects of mechanical pruning, irrigation management and drought on wine and juice grape growth, productivity and physiology including the effects of nutrition, harvest date, pruning level and disease on cold hardiness of wine and juice grapes. Other research has examined the potential use of hot water treatment for the control of crown gall and the physiology of heat-shock protein formation and recently, the application of "precision farming" techniques to viticulture.
- - Biography
- - Phone: (559) 278-2089
- - Office: Viticulture Research 103
- - Mail Stop: VR 89
- - Email: rwample@csufresno.edu
Dr. Sayed Badr is a professor of viticulture in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. He received his Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from U.C. Davis in 1970. After over thirty-five years of service to Fresno State, Dr. Badr began participating in the early retirement program (FERP) in 2005, which allows faculty to teach one semester each year for up to five years. He continues to contribute to the program by teaching viticulture each fall within the Department of Viticulture and Enology. His areas of expertise are in the evaluation and development of growing techniques for new table grape varieties, in grapevine physiology and nutrition, and in the evaluation of rootstocks for table grapes.
- - Biography
- - Phone: (559) 278-5390
- - Office: VERC 202
- - Mail Stop: VR89
- - Email: sayed_badr@csufresno.edu
Kenneth C. Fugelsang is the winemaster at California State University, Fresno and an associate professor of enology in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Expertise: Wine stability and microbiology.
- - Biography
- - Phone: (559) 278-2791
- - Office: Enology Unit 101
- - Mail Stop: VR89
- - Email: kennethf@csufresno.edu
Sanliang Gu holds the Ricchiuti Chair of Viticulture Research at VERC. In this position he serves as a research scientist and an assistant professor of viticulture in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Expertise: Plant nutrition, plant-water relation, water stress, cold hardiness, cultivar evaluation, trellis systems and canopy management.
- - Biography
- - Phone: (559) 278-4786
- - Office: VERC 207
- - Mail Stop: VR89
- - Email: sanliang@ csufresno.edu
Susan Rodriguez is a research fellow for the Viticulture and Enology Research Center at California State University, Fresno. She has been involved in wine microbiology since 1981 when she received a Ph.D. in Microbiology from UC Davis. She has worked at Heublein Wines (now Constellation), E & J Gallo Winery, and a New Zealand government Crown Research Institute. Recently she has become intrigued with sensory aspects of wine. She started teaching the advanced sensory class in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at Fresno State when she arrived in 2002. She designed and operates a state-of-the-art Sensory Laboratory. The sensory properties of wines and grape products from research projects and external clients are evaluated on a regular basis. As a research fellow in the department and research center, she has been instrumental in developing the use of flow cytometry to monitor and analyze yeast and bacteria in wine using fluorescently labeled antibodies. Dr. Rodriguez served on the organizing committee for the International Wine Microbiology Symposium (April 2006).
- - Phone: (559) 278-7104
- - Office VERC 209
- - Mail Stop: VR89
- - Email: susanr@csufresno.edu
Roy Thornton is a professor of enology in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Dr. Thornton received his Ph.D. in Applied Microbiology from Strathclyde University, Scotland. He taught at Massey University, New Zealand for 20 years and Indiana University (Kokomo, Indiana) for three years before joining E & J Gallo Winery as a Senior Research Microbiologists for five years. His research focus is wine microbiology with emphasis on wine yeast genetics and physiology, breeding of wine yeasts by selective hybridization for improved winemaking properties; manipulation of wine flavor by the use of different wine yeasts; the interaction of wine yeasts and bacteria; and real time monitoring of fermentation by flow cytometry. Additionally, he has interests in brewing and fuel ethanol production.
- - Biography
- - Phone: (559) 278-7112
- - Office: VERC 208
- - Mail Stop: VR89
- - Email: rthornto@csufresno.edu
Administrative Staff
Helen Chrisman is the office manager and assistant to the director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center and chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology. She works closely with the director and department chair to administer the overall fiscal and business operations of the combined research and academic programs. Helen oversees the total operations of the office and provides direction to numerous students, staff, faculty, and industry members on a daily basis. Helen has served the viticulture and enology programs at this institution since 1988.
- - Phone: (559) 278-7685
- - Office: VERC 105
- - Mail Stop: VR89
- - Email: helenc@csufresno.edu
Margarita Garcia holds the position of administrative support assistant in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Under Helen Chrisman's supervision, Margarita provides a wide range of administrative support to the viticulture and enology programs including preparation of correspondence, reports, and financial documents. Margarita has been employed by the university since 2000 and began her service to the viticulture and enology programs in April 2005.
- - Phone: (559) 278-5392
- - Office: VERC 105
- - Mail Stop: VR89
- - Email: magarcia@csufresno.edu
Cynthia Wood, Information Services Coordinator at the Viticulture and Enology Research Center and Department of Viticulture and Enology, is responsible for developing and coordinating educational, outreach, and fundraising events for the viticulture and enology research and academic programs. These activities are designed to introduce transfer students and attract potential industry professionals to the viticulture and enology programs and services offered by this institution. Cynthia holds a B.S. in liberal studies from California State University, Fresno. She has served the viticulture and enology programs at this institution since 1981.
- - Phone: (559) 278-7135
- - Office: VERC 101
- - Mail Stop: VR89
- - Email: cynthiaw@csufresno.edu{ page top }
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CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE - CATI
College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
California State University, Fresno
