03/01/2001

Huettel Joins Administrative Staff of the AAES

AUBURN, Ala. —Robin Huettel, a former national program leader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), has been named executive associate director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES).

Huettel, who is a nematologist with a strong background in biological control and pest management, comes to the AAES with an exemplary combination of skills in science, education and administration.

A native of Texas, she majored in biology at Sam Houston State University in Texas, from which she graduated in 1967. Huettel worked after graduation as a microbiologist at the University of Texas, where her late husband was in graduate school. Upon his graduation, the couple moved to the University of Florida in Gainesville where Huettel worked as an electron microscopist and juggled motherhood duties, then began graduate studies. She earned a M.S. and Ph.D. in nematology from the University of Florida in 1979 and 1982, respectively.

She then went to work as a microbiologist in the Agricultural Research Service(ARS) Nematology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, and also served as an adjunct associate professor with the Department of Botany at the University of Maryland. Her research focused on biological and biorational control of plant parasitic nematodes, a microscopic roundworm that affects agricultural and horticultural crops throughout the world.

In 1985, she was named research leader of the ARS Nematology Laboratory and continued to conduct research on using fungi, bacteria and other natural agents to control plant parasitic nematodes. One of her research accomplishments was the isolation and identification of a sex pheromone of the soybean cyst nematode. In this capacity, Huettel also conducted research with Cooperative Extension in Maine to study quarantine issues involving plant parasitic nematodes that affect potatoes. In addition, she taught courses on nematology and sampling techniques to extension workers and growers.

In 1992, Huettel was named chief operations officer for the Methods Development/Biological Control Laboratories, Plant Protection and Quarantine, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). In this position, she oversaw programs in eight laboratories across the U.S. and one in Guatemala. She transferred to North Carolina in 1995, where she help to set up a new research facility for APHIS.

In 1996, she was named national program leader for Plant Pathology and Nematology with CSREES in Washington, D.C., a position she held until coming to Auburn in January.

Huettel's position at Auburn focuses her energies on directing research activities in the AAES and in helping to bring grant monies to Alabama to fund the many diverse food and fiber research initiatives of AAES scientists.

"We are excited about the ideas, energy and contacts that Dr. Huettel is bringing to the AAES," said Luther Waters, AAES director and dean of the AU College of Agriculture. "I think she will make a big difference in the Experiment Station and across the state."

"I believe there are a lot of opportunities here to increase extramural funding," commented Huettel. "I hope to be a strong liaison between the researchers here and granting sources, not only in plant and animal sciences but also in natural resources and other areas."

According to Huettel, she sees great potential in extramural funding for such topics as waste management, water quality, food safety and human resource development, such as bridging the digital divide in rural communities. She also plans to aid faculty in seeking extramural dollars for applied research projects.

Huettel is especially excited about the AAES's satsuma orange research program, which is helping rejuvenate sastuma production in Alabama's Gulf Coast region. "I did my Ph.D. work on citrus, and I think the research that already has been conducted here shows real potential for reintroducing a commodity that once was grown here," she said.

"Alabama is unique because it has such a diverse selection of agricultural commodities, which gives us a lot of opportunity to look at developing these smaller but focused industries," she continued. "One area that has not been tapped is the organic food market. Organic farming is on the increase and these products can be sold at higher prices, so it certainly is an opportunity for our fruit and vegetable growers."

"I think there are creative things we can do in this state looking at precision agriculture, optimizing land for beef cattle production and so much more," she added.

Though Huettel arrived just as the more than six percent proration for education was declared, she's optimistic about the future. "No one sees proration as a good thing, but agriculture is changing and the needs of our clientele are changing," she said. "We, too, will have to change and, due to proration, we may have to change faster than we expected. We may have to redirect programs and we'll certainly have to do our work more economically and efficiently. But I firmly believe that we can rise to meet those needs and the current challenges."

One way Huettel hopes to address these changes and challenges is having an open-door policy for AAES faculty and for stakeholders throughout the state. "I want feedback from agricultural and forestry producers and consumers to learn more about their needs," she said. She can be contacted at 334-844-5518 or Room 105, Comer Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

03/01/01