News

The OAC Dean's Office is pleased to announce Carleigh Johnston has been promoted to the role of OAC Liaison Manager as part of an expansion of the OAC Student Liaison Program.

Johnston has worked with the program since 2013. She started with the team in a part-time capacity as the OAC Alumni Foundation Student Intern, and then in 2017 she was the successful applicant for the role of OAC Liaison Officer.

Johnston has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Guelph, and has been a significant contributor to the OAC Student Liaison program’s success.

Prof. Lisa Duizer has been appointed as chair of the Department of Food Science. She begins her five-year-term on May 1, 2019

“I am excited about the opportunity to work with faculty, staff and students to further strengthen our position as a world leading food science department,” shares Duizer.

After over fifty years of undergraduate teaching, Prof. Dave Hume taught his final class in the fall of 2018. He first joined the University in 1966 in the Department of Crop Science, now the Department of Plant Agriculture. In 2005 he retired but has continued to be actively involved in the department as a professor emeritus. Hume is well respected as a researcher, teacher and industry expert. 

We recently chatted with Hume to reflect on his career and specifically his years of teaching. We wanted to know if he had any tips to share for other university instructors and educators.

Earth Day, April 22, is an annual worldwide event to celebrate our planet and support environmental protection. Our graduate students work hard each day to push boundaries and conduct important research to address critical environmental issues in a sustainable way.

The Department of Plant Agriculture is pleased to announce Joshua Nasielski’s appointment to the MacSon Professorship in Agronomy for Eastern and Northern Ontario. Nasielski began in the new assistant professor position on April 1, 2019.

Donald Skinner is a swine nutritionist with Molesworth Farm Supply and has been in that role since January 2013. He’s a member of the OAC Alumni Association board of directors and sat down with us recently to chat about his role, his love for the industry and highlights from his time on campus.

During his time at the University of Guelph (U of G), Riley was a busy student. He played 4 years of rugby, while also being on the Dean’s Honours list (academic average of 80% or above). In his senior undergrad years he conducted research trials on the growth of Lupin, a yellow legume, in Ontario. Today, Riley is the farm manager at Chudleigh’s in Milton and we recently chatted with him about his new role.  

The Department of Animal Biosciences is pleased to welcome Jennifer Ellis as an assistant professor in animal systems modelling. Ellis began in her role on April 1, 2019.

In this role, Ellis will establish a research program on the integration of multiple sources of data related to nutrition, physiology, genetics and behaviour of animals in mathematical models for the purpose of improving performance, product quality, animal health and welfare, and/or the natural environment.

The School of Environmental Sciences (SES) is pleased to welcome Adam Gillespie as an assistant professor in soil biochemistry. Gillespie began in his role on October 15, 2018.

In this position, Gillespie will continue to work on research related to soil organic matter dynamics and nutrient cycling, particularly the carbon cycle. He will also advise graduate students and teach soil science courses at the graduate and undergraduate level.

Hannah Symington came to the University of Guelph because of its strong agricultural science program, but soon realized how much more it has to offer. Hannah realized there’s just as much to learn outside of the classroom as there is in the classroom and has taken advantage of the valuable experiences provided by clubs and student-run social events.