Menu

Staff

Staff

We're here to help you! Please feel free to contact one of our staff members for assistance.

Name and RoleContact InformationServices

Chris Behnke

IT Support Associate
 

Diana Cortez

Faculty Specialist
 

  • Prospective student inquiries and tours
  • Academic Programs Support
  • Course design
  • Course scheduling
  • Academic reports
  • Academic website updates
Shaun Faulkner
Facilities Manager
 
  • 301-405-6913
  • ssfaulkn@umd.edu
  • PSLA Facilities Manager
  • Departmental liaison with University of Maryland Facilities Management
  • Departmental Fleet Coordinator
  • Space inventory control officer for PSLA offices, laboratories,research support rooms, and common rooms

Meghan Fisher-Holbert

Agricultural Technician Supervisor

  • Supervise Greenhouse Personnel
  • Support Research Activities
  • Setting and Monitoring Environmental Controls
  • Implement IPM Program and Nutrient Management
  • WPS Compliance

Vacant

Executive Administrative Assistant

 

  • 301-405-4356
  • Assistant to Chair (Internal Relations)
  • Liaison w/ external stakeholders
  • Coordinator for Plant Science
  • Committees- scheduling, membership, correspondence
  • Support for Merit and Awards Committee, Third Year Review and APT processes
  • Governance Documents
  • Calendars, internal
  • Staff Hiring Coordination with Business Office
  • Parking Coordinator; Search Committee Coordinator

Vacant
Executive Administrative Assistant (C-1)
 

 

  • 301-405-6244
  • Assistant to the Chair-External Relations
  • Departmental and Extension support for related events, calendars, and travel coordination
  • Seminar (travel coordination)
  • External-related event scheduling for Agricultural Education and Extension Program
  • Alumni records management
  • Departmental reflectors
  • Social media and website editing
  • Website management
  • Assistant to Chair's Office (Internal Relations)
  • Liaison w/ external stakeholders
  • Backup Coordinator for Plant Science
  • Backup Committees- scheduling, membership, correspondence
  • Support for Merit and Awards Committee, Third Year Review and APT processes
  • Governance Documents
  • Calendars, internal
  • Staff Hiring Coordination with Business Office
  • Parking Coordinator; Search Committee Coordinator

Wennett Jones-Johnson

Business Manager

  • Account management-Unrestricted Research
  • Contractual hires (ex: C1, C2, PostDoc)
  • Travel (primary POC)
  • J1-OPT, H-1B, F1 Visa processing; Visiting scholar requests
  • NRA payroll forms
  • Pre-Award review and main point of contact with
  • AgPAS for proposals
  • Monitors expiring appointments
  • Departmental Purchasing and Travel Card holder
  • Payroll processing
  • Departmental telephone and cellular representative

Ruth Miller

Business Service Specialist
 

  • Account management-Start-up accounts
  • Account management-Cost-share accounts
  • Foundation and Scholarship accounts
  • Student Award disbursement
  • Greenhouse bench and growth chamber billing
  • Undergraduate and hourly graduate student hiring
  • Key and swipe card requests
  • Payroll processing
  • Miscellaneous accounting and business projects as necessary

Michelle Neff

Director of Financial Services
 

  • Account management-State accounts
  • Departmental budgeting
  • Graduate assistants
  • Lecturer agreements
  • Tenure-track hires (coordinate with Office of the Chair)
  • Staff hires
  • Course budgeting
  • Purchasing card/Travel card review and management
  • Federal Work-Study contact for the department
  • Summer Salary
  • Oversee Payroll for department
  • Assist Chair with departmental strategic planning
  • Travel (backup)

Wanderley Rubin

Program Coordinator

  • Prospective student inquiries and tours for the Fermentation Science program at Shady Grove
  • Student recruitment and administrative assistance for the FERM program at USG
  • Academic advising 

Saratu Samaila

Administrative Assistant II

  • Agricultural Science and Technology (AGST), including Agricultural Education administrative support
  • Undergraduate student/alumni records management
  • Undergraduate student reflectors, room, and computer access
  • Social media and website editing
  • AGST events, calendar, and faculty travel coordination

Kara Thompson

Program Management Specialist

  • Sponsored Research-post award management
  • Process requisitions for P.O.s for Sponsored Research projects
  • Administrative assistance with FERM program


 

Greenhouse Manager,

Plant Growth Facilities Manager
 

  • 301-405-4375 
  • Plant Growth Facilities Operations and Maintenance
  • Plant Care Supervision
  • Space Allocation

Research Staff

NameTitleContact
Audra BissettLaboratory Research Technician Assistantabissett@umd.edu

Kevin Moore

Laboratory Research Technician Assistantkmoore20@terpmail.umd.edu
Anita ShoenebergAgricultural Technician Leadaschoen2@umd.edu