George Hamilton, professor and extension specialist, retired from Rutgers on January 1, 2026.

Effective January 1, George Hamilton, extension specialist in pest management and professor in the Department of Entomology, retired from Rutgers University, concluding a distinguished 38-year career marked by excellence in extension, research, teaching and service to the university and the agricultural community.

A member of the faculty since 1987, Hamilton made significant contributions to the fields of entomology, pesticide safety education, and the management of invasive insects affecting agriculture in New Jersey. He served as chair of the Department of Entomology for 15 years and held numerous university and statewide advisory roles related to pesticide regulation, environmental protection and agricultural policy.

Trained as an environmental biologist and entomologist, Hamilton earned his doctoral degree in entomology from Rutgers in 1985. Over the course of his career, he authored more than 200 research and extension publications addressing integrated pest management, pesticide use and environmental protection.

Through his work with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Hamilton became widely recognized for advancing pesticide safety education and integrated pest management programs that support New Jersey’s agricultural industries while protecting environmental and public health. His extension efforts reached thousands of growers, professionals and residents each year through workshops, training programs and outreach presentations.

Among his many contributions, Hamilton played a key role in statewide and national efforts to manage the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, a pest that threatens fruit, vegetable and specialty crops. His research helped improve monitoring and management strategies and contributed to multi-state integrated pest management initiatives aimed at reducing the pest’s impact on agriculture.

He also led and supported the development of integrated pest management programs for a range of crops in New Jersey, including tree fruit, vegetables, blueberries and field crops. These programs helped growers reduce pesticide use while maintaining crop productivity and environmental stewardship.

Nationally, Hamilton was an active leader in the Entomological Society of America, serving as treasurer and president of the Eastern Branch and completing two terms on the ESA Board of Governors.

During his career, Hamilton received numerous state, national and international honors, including awards from the ESA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizing his contributions to research, extension and integrated pest management programs.

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Brian Shilling, director Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), addresses participants in the 2026 RCE Annual Conference. Photo: OPOC

The 2026 Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Annual Conference convened on January 15 at the Busch Student Center, bringing together faculty, staff, and stakeholders from across New Jersey. The annual gathering provided a shared space for networking, professional development, research collaboration, and the exchange of best practices in delivering research-based educational programming with service excellence.

The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Rhonda Breen-Simone, RCE Department Administrator, and Kathleen Howell, Associate Director of Administration. Their greetings set the tone for a day focused on impact, innovation and collaboration across the Extension community.

Addressing conference attendees, RCE Director Brian Schilling reflected on a year defined not by obstacles, but by progress.

2026 RCE Annual Conference attendees. Photo: OPOC

Despite the challenges of 2025, Schilling emphasized that Rutgers Cooperative Extension has much to be proud of. He pointed to growing partnerships, increased visibility across the university, and expanding recognition of RCE’s essential role in research translation and community engagement. He highlighted exciting new technologies and discoveries emerging from Rutgers’ agricultural programs—from drone initiatives developed in partnership with community colleges to artificial intelligence collaborations with Rowan University and Rutgers’ School of Engineering. Advances in breeding programs and production techniques, he noted, are strengthening both innovation and farm viability across the state.

Schilling underscored the importance of demonstrating measurable impact, describing new investments in measuring impact and strategic engagement with university leadership. He also stressed that strengthening internal partnerships and increasing student engagement remain central priorities. Above all, he reaffirmed RCE’s mission of expanding its expertise, resources and presence in communities across New Jersey, ensuring that Rutgers research continues to make a visible and meaningful difference statewide.

Hanh La, Senior Program Administrator, and Janice McDonnell, SEBS/NJAES Associate Dean of Research Impact, delivered a featured presentation on Impact, highlighting measurable outcomes across RCE programming and underscoring the importance of data-driven storytelling in demonstrating Extension’s value to communities statewide.

The morning breakout sessions offered attendees a range of practical and forward-looking topics while midday programming featured a dynamic Customer Service overview presented by John Eric Jacobsen, coach and president of Jacobsen Business Seminars, Inc., who emphasized communication, professionalism and relationship-building as cornerstones of Extension’s public-facing mission.

2026 RCE Annual Conference attendees participate in the poster sessions. Photo: OPOC

Following lunch, Laura Lawson, Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Executive Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, delivered the Executive Leadership Address. She reflected on the strategic priorities of RCE, reaffirming its leadership in advancing science-based solutions, strengthening partnerships, and expanding statewide impact. She emphasized that RCE remains central to the land-grant mission of Rutgers University, serving as a critical connector that brings research and educational expertise into communities across New Jersey.

The afternoon workshops continued the day’s focus on applied learning and collaboration followed by the annual RCE Awards Ceremony, which recognized excellence across faculty, staff, volunteers and collaborative teams. The awardees are:

• Wilbur V. Runk Graduate Student Excellence Award – Jin-Jia Yu, a Ph.D. candidate in Entomology
• Excellence Award – Administrative/Support Staff – Cynthia Triolo, Office Administrator for Morris County
• Excellence Award – Paraprofessional – Kristine Rappaport, Somerset County 4-H Program Coordinator
• Excellence Award – Programmatic Staff – Sabrina Subhit, Senior Program Coordinator, Family and Community Health Sciences 
• Excellence Award in Volunteerism – Eileen McEnroe, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County
• Faculty of the Year Award – Marissa Staffen, 4-H Agent and County Extension Department Head in Essex County,
• Mary Jane Willis Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award – Food is Medicine for South Asians (FIMSA) Team led by Nurgül Fitzgerald (PI), Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences & Extension Specialist, and Soko Setoguchi (co-PI), Director, Rutgers Health-RWJBarnabas Health Center for Climate, Health, and Healthcare
• Merle V. Adams Award – James Shope, Assistant Extension Specialist in Climate Service
• Best of the Best Award – Rutgers Nursery and Green Industry Working Group: Agricultural Agents Timothy Waller (Cumberland); William Errickson (Monmouth); Jean Epiphan (Morris); Hemant Gohil (Gloucester); Salvatore Mangiafico (Salem); Steve Rettke (Monmouth); Extension Specialist Raul Cabrera, RAREC; Richard Buckley and Sabrina Tirpak of the Plant Diagnostic Lab; Stephanie Murphy of the Soil Testing Lab; and Erin Quinn, Intern and Ph.D. candidate in Plant Biology and Human Health

The closing sessions highlighted innovative, community-centered programming and brought the day’s focus on collaboration and impact full circle. From welcome remarks to final presentations, the 2026 RCE Annual Conference reflected a unified commitment to research-based education, inclusive engagement and measurable impact across New Jersey communities.

View a photo gallery of the 2026 RCE Annual Conference.

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Attendees in the SEBS Office of Research’s inaugural “Charting a Research Pathway” event, get to know each other, discussing their field, research and impact work.

Faculty from SEBS and NJAES gathered on Rutgers’ Cook Campus in January to kick off a dialogue that the SEBS Office of Research hopes will lead to an increase in the high-quality, cross-disciplinary research at Rutgers that often significantly impacts the state and our society, at large.

The in-person event was the kickoff of the office’s inaugural “Charting a Research Pathway” series. Over the next few months, more than 35 faculty members will delve into their own research vision, understand where their own career hopes and goals intersect, and collaborate across disciplines to develop transdisciplinary research efforts that address various impact areas.

Attendees get to know each other, discussing their field, research, and impact work.

By design, this workshop series will position SEBS/NJAES research and extension faculty to find maximum synergy. Together, they will leverage each other’s expertise and networks to develop research plans that have both a high standard of quality research and societal impact. 

“Research and Extension are not two separate activities,” said Josh Kohut, dean of research at SEBS and director of research at NJAES. “We are meant to do this work together.” 

In undertaking this work, faculty attendees hope to position themselves strategically in the currently shifting research landscape. This landscape was elucidated by the workshop’s various speakers, including Brian Schilling, director, Rutgers Cooperative Extension; Dominique Carter, Ph.D. of Lewis-Burke Associates; George LeBlanc, vice president for government and fiscal affairs in the Department of Government Relations at Rutgers; and Kay Bidle, professor, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences.

At this kickoff, attendees received advice on how to be more proactive in their research pursuits. In frank and informative talks, both Carter and LeBlanc discussed how the national and state research priorities are shifting focus toward use-inspired research, as well as how SEBS and NJAES faculty can respond.

Both speakers emphasized a focus on societal impact in conjunction with their research. They also noted how the funding calls from some government agencies increasingly look for cross-disciplinary teams to undertake large, highly impactful research. 

“Finding research funding can be challenging, but those challenges often spark the clarity needed to refine a powerful research vision. Through this workshop series, we’re helping faculty turn the funding landscape into an opportunity.  We want SEBS faculty to have an opportunity to articulate their goals, strengthen their ideas, and position their work for the greatest impact “said Janice McDonnell, SEBS Associate Dean of Research Impact.

Kay Bidle, professor, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, described his team’s research approach to “Convergence Research.”

McDonnell notes “identifying the right funding can be a challenge, but it’s also a meaningful step toward building a research vision that aligns with our land grant mission. Through this workshop series, we’re helping faculty transform the search for resources for long-term transdisciplinary impact.”

This was further stressed by Bidle. At Rutgers, he has pursued an area of research prioritized by NSF called Convergence Research—an idea that became of interest to several attendees.

“In convergence research, cross-discipline co-creation is absolutely essential,” Bidle said, as he explained the cross-field interconnected nature of his research group. He attributed closely integrated, cross-field collaboration and incubation as essential to the new discoveries found within the project. “That’s the type of thing NSF is looking for in funded projects tackling grand challenge questions.”

“I really want to make this happen in my world,” said Elizabeth Snyder, associate professor, Department of Animal Sciences, who attended the workshop. Snyder is looking forward to convening a team within her department and beyond to develop a convergence research approach.

As the workshop series progresses, attendees will have the opportunity to explore research questions that will require collaboration between fields from the start. They will also gain more insight into federal, foundation, and industry funding opportunities. In the end, they will work in cross-disciplinary teams to develop their own transdisciplinary concept paper ready for funding calls.

For faculty interested in developing their research impact potential, please contact Janice McDonnell, Associate Dean of Research Impact at SEBS, at mcdonnel@marine.rutgers.edu.

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NJAES Executive Director Laura Lawson addresses delegates at the 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo in Atlantic City.

Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) played a leading role in shaping the 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo (formerly the New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show), held January 21–23 at Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City.

In remarks to the delegates, NJAES Executive Director Laura Lawson expressed appreciation to Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, State Board of Agriculture President Bob Blew, Farm Bureau President Alan Carter, and the representatives of New Jersey’s agricultural community for the opportunity to once again address the convention. She conveyed greetings on behalf of Rutgers University President William F. Tate IV, Chancellor Francine Conway and Provost Jason Geary, noting Rutgers’ deep commitment to its land-grant mission and to serving the state’s agricultural community at the highest levels of university leadership.

Director of Rutgers Cooperative extension Brian Shilling listens attentively during the 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo.

Lawson also highlighted the release of the 2025 NJAES Annual Report and reaffirmed the experiment station’s focus on four critical issue areas that build sustainable and resilient communities across New Jersey: advancing viable agriculture and aquaculture; ensuring healthy outcomes in food, nutrition, and health; promoting positive youth development; and protecting and sustaining natural resources. Together, she noted, these priorities demonstrate NJAES’s continued dedication to innovation, partnership and practical solutions that strengthen New Jersey agriculture and the communities it supports.

In partnership with the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey, NJAES’ Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) helped deliver one of the region’s most comprehensive agricultural education programs—reinforcing the university’s impact on farm viability and the state’s agricultural economy.

RCE agricultural agents Michelle Infante-Casella (Gloucester County) and William Bamka (Burlington County) co-chaired the wide-ranging Rutgers educational program, coordinating 82 presenters across three days of workshops and concurrent sessions. The event drew a sold-out trade show floor and strong statewide participation from farmers, agricultural professionals, 4-H and FFA students, and industry partners.

Pre-convention workshops set the tone with hands-on, practical learning experiences. Sessions focused on On-Farm Food Safety, Pesticide Safety, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Pest Diagnostics, and Farm Labor and Regulations—core areas where Rutgers research directly supports farm productivity, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship.

New for 2026, the IPM Workshop provided interactive training with microscopes, pheromone traps, and pest specimens, translating Rutgers research into real-world applications growers can implement immediately.

RCE hosted five concurrent morning sessions and five afternoon sessions on day one that covered a wide range of commodities and production systems. Topics included Technology for Field Crop Production, Vegetable Production, Tree Fruit and Small Fruit, Nursery Crops, Blueberries and Greenhouse Production. These sessions highlighted science-based practices that increase crop yields, improve quality, reduce input costs, and promote sustainable land management—key drivers of New Jersey’s multibillion-dollar agricultural sector.

Timothy Waller, RCE agricultural agent and department head (Cumberland County) who works with nursery crops, conducts one of the multiple Rutgers educational programs delivered in partnership with the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey.

Day two highlighted by a keynote address from Temple Grandin, world-renowned animal scientist and professor at the University of Colorado. Her presentation drew farmers, educators, 4-H members and FFA students from across the region. Rutgers strategically aligned its Equine and Livestock sessions with Grandin’s appearance, further strengthening engagement with the animal agriculture community. Additional educational sessions led by Rutgers faculty and agents addressed Environmental Issues in Agriculture, Soil Health and Cover Cropping, Cut Flower Production, Agricultural Technology, Agricultural Marketing and Specialty Crops.

Beyond knowledge transfer, the expo delivered direct professional value. The RCE program provided NJDEP Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits—offering more credits than in 2025—and reinforced critical safety and pest management practices. RCE personnel remain central to pesticide education and the state’s licensing process, helping ensure that New Jersey agriculture operates safely, sustainably, and in compliance with state regulations.

By translating university research into actionable guidance, Rutgers continues to strengthen key pillars of New Jersey’s agricultural economy, including farm profitability, environmental resilience, and workforce development.

With momentum growing and planning already underway for the 2027 Expo, Rutgers Cooperative Extension remains at the forefront of advancing innovation, collaboration, and economic vitality across the Garden State’s agricultural community.

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Sara Elnakib, chair of the Department of Family and Community Health Sciences, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Photo: John O’Boyle.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension has co-authored new statewide guidelines aimed at clearing up confusion over what food can be safely and legally donated, a move expected to divert millions of meals from landfills to people in need.

The New Jersey Food Donation Guidelines, published online this fall, were developed by Rutgers and the Meal Recovery Coalition, a business-led, statewide initiative addressing food insecurity and food waste. Each year, the average New Jerseyan discards about 325 pounds of edible food, often because businesses and individuals are unsure what they are allowed to give away.

“Our goal is to ensure that food is used for the purpose it was grown or produced for,” said Sara Elnakib, chair of the Department of Family and Community Health Sciences at Rutgers Cooperative Extension and a lead author of the guidelines. “Wasting safe, edible food in a state where nearly 12 percent of the population is food insecure is both illogical and unethical.”

The guidelines clarify donation rules for a wide range of foods—from baked goods and prepared meals to canned items—and explain liability protections for donors who give food in “good faith” through certified food recovery organizations. They also outline safe storage and handling practices and provide a simple flowchart to help donors quickly determine whether food can be donated.

The effort supports the New Jersey Food Waste Reduction Act, which set a goal of cutting the state’s municipal food waste in half by 2030. Development of the guidelines was funded by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and informed by best practices from other states and national experts, including Harvard University’s Food Law and Policy Clinic.

With New Jersey’s complex system of local health regulations, consistency was a priority. In the coming months, Rutgers Cooperative Extension will partner with the New Jersey Department of Health to train municipal food safety inspectors on the new standards, helping expand safe meal recovery statewide.

“These guidelines are about making it easier to do the right thing,” Elnakib said. “They help ensure that surplus food feeds people—not landfills.”

Read the full story, which originally appeared on Rutgers Today.

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L-R: SEBS/NJAES retirees, Robin Brumfield, Daryl Minch, Roberta Moseley, Gary Huntzinger and Jo Ann Hoffman, gather for the 2025 Retired Faculty Luncheon at Nielson Dining Hall on the George H. Cook campus.

On December 4, 2025, retired faculty and staff of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) gathered for the annual Retired Faculty and Staff Luncheon at Nielson Dining Hall on the George H. Cook campus. Smiles and fond memories filled the Rectangle Room as former colleagues embraced, reconnected and reminisced.

Executive Dean Laura Lawson was on hand to greet attendees and share appreciation for our school and experiment station community. Guests shared their thoughts on relationships they developed at SEBS/NJAES that have had a lasting impact on their lives. A few SEBS student ambassadors, who also served as greeters, shared a little about themselves and what their goals are as well.

Margaret “Peggy” Brennan-Tonetta (UCNB’94, GSNB’96, ’10), who most recently served as Senior Associate Director of NJAES/Director of Resource and Economic Development, retired in 2025 and attended for the first time. “It was amazing to see so many retirees that I haven’t seen in years and to catch up with dear friends!”

Guests were treated to a buffet lunch while a stringed duo, comprised of Mason Gross students, played light music in the background. Coffee and dessert complemented the joyful conversations taking place at each table.

As in previous years, retirees were invited to take home a festive poinsettia to mark the holiday season.

Albert Ayeni, retired ethnic crops research specialist in the Department of Plant Biology, attended the event for the first time. “It was such a great pleasure to meet our many friends at SEBS and enjoy the variety of foods offered to us. Even more heartwarming was to learn from Dean Lawson that the school is making steady progress with advancing its vision, mission, and goal of delivering first-class teaching, research, and service to the New Jersey community and beyond.”

We look forward to reconnecting with our retirees again in December 2026. View photo gallery of the 2025 luncheon below.

SEBS/NJAES retirees and guests

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Alayne Torretta, 4-H agent and department head, RCE of Warren County, at right, is presented with the 25 Years of Service Award by Alyssa Walden, president of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals.

Five Extension professionals with the 4-H Department of Youth Development, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, were recognized with national awards for their work supporting 4-H Youth Development in New Jersey by the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals this fall. The annual conference, which was held in Atlanta, GA, this year, recognized “those individuals who have excelled in their professional responsibilities, created outstanding programming, and have reached milestones in their careers.”

L-R: Alyssa Walden, president of the National Association of 4-H Youth Development Professionals; Kiersten Keywood, daughter of Jeanette Rea Keywood; and Jill Brambe, president and CEO of National 4-H Council, at the National 4-H Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

In addition, Jeannette Rea-Keywood, state 4-H agent who passed away in 2021, was posthumously inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame during a separate ceremony preceding the conference. A faculty member of Rutgers Cooperative Extension in the Department of 4-H Youth Development for more than 30 years at both the county (22 years) and state (9 years) levels, Jeanette was an active member of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals and Epsilon Sigma Phi. She held numerous offices at the state and national levels in both professional organizations and chaired the National ESP conference in 2016 when it was hosted in New Jersey.

Matthew Newman, Chair of the Department of 4-H Youth Development, praised the recipients.

“It is altogether appropriate that our dedicated Rutgers 4-H faculty and staff are so recognized for their commitment to excellence, both in service and programming.  The awards highlight not only individual achievement but also the collective excellence and commitment to high standards that define our 4-H team,” said Newman.

Kelly Dziak, 4-H agent, at right, and Alyssa Walden, president of NAE4-HYDP.

Kelly Dziak, 4-H agent, RCE of Morris County – Distinguished Service Award

Kelly Dziak, a NJ 4-H alumna, has served the New Jersey and Morris County 4-H Youth Development Program since 2010, with a focus on building a welcoming community and fostering a sense of belonging for both youth participants and adult volunteers. In addition to overseeing the county 4-H program, Kelly provides guidance and oversight to several state-level program such as serving as faculty advisor to the NJ 4-H Dog Project, state leader for the 4-H Leadership Academy program, and co-host of the 4-H Volunteer Ventures podcast. The 2025 Distinguished Service Award recognizes her outstanding program leadership and professional contributions to the 4-H Youth Development program. This honor reflects her dedication to the 4-H program, her commitment to high-quality educational programs, and her passion to build a supportive community for youth and adults to learn and grow.

Melissa Bright, 4-H agent, (who was unable to attend the awards banquet) is pictured with her “Achievement in Service Award.”

Melissa Bright, 4-H agent, RCE of Somerset County – Achievement in Service Award

Melissa Bright has served as an agent for the past 3.5 years, focusing on 4-H agri-science education, with an emphasis on dairy and beef cattle, livestock management, public speaking, and career readiness. She oversees all aspects of the county’s 4-H program, including club operations, volunteer recruitment, and leadership development, fostering youth engagement in agriculture and lifelong learning. This 2025 Achievement in Service Award recognizes her outstanding leadership and professional contributions to the 4-H Youth Development Program and the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals. This honor reflects Melissa’s excellence in professional attitude, continuous improvement, notable accomplishments, community involvement, and special achievements throughout her career.

Alayne Torretta, 4-H agent and department head, RCE of Warren County – 25 Years of Service Award

Alayne Torretta has served NJ 4-H since 2000. Under her direction, Warren County 4-H maintains 18 4-H clubs that all together serve 170 youth. Among the primary responsibilities, she supports volunteer development and state and federal reporting. A NJ State 4-H Positive Youth Development Champion, she has served on the NJ 4-H State Steering Committee and the NJ State 4-H Global and Cultural Engagement Task Force, among other roles. She was celebrated with the 25 Years of Service Award for a quarter century of dedicated service to the ideals of 4-H youth development as well as to the national association.

Laura Bovitz, 4-H agent, and Shannon Glynn, 4-H program assistant, RCE of Middlesex County were awarded the National Award for Excellence in Healthy Living Programming for their work in the Teen Mental Health Fair in partnership with county 4-H Teen Ambassadors. In response to the growing mental health issues in youth, the fair was established with 4-H teens taking the lead in identifying issues, developing interactive activities and resources and working with 4-H staff to contact outside agencies and professionals who addressed these issues.  Topics such as stress management, social media, body image issues, dating violence, depression and anxiety and more were included in the event. 4-H teen Ambassadors continued outreach after the event through the development of a teen-led Instagram page, “Teen Balance,” that provides additional resources and uses a “teens teaching teens” approach to discuss issues of interest to teens in the area of mental wellness.

Shannon Glynn, 4-H program assistant, and Laura Bovitz, 4-H agent, presenting a poster at the national conference. The poster depicts the Teen Mental Health Fair, which earned them the “Excellence in Programming Award.”

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L-R: Paul Hlubik, Burlington County farmer and NJ ag leader; William “Bill” Bamka and Brian Schilling, director, RCE.

On November 1, William “Bill” Bamka, agriculture and natural resources (ANR) agent, RCE of Burlington County, was recognized at the Burlington County Board of Agriculture (BOA) dinner with the board’s “Distinguished Service Award.”

Bill Cutts, cranberry farmer and Burlington County BOA member, paid tribute to Bamka’s impressive accomplishments over almost three decades at Rutgers. “I’ve worked with Bill on various issues over many years. I’ve always found his advice to be sound, his help to be invaluable, and his work ethic to be extraordinary. I believe that those of you who have worked with Bill have found the same things. He is the epitome of what an agricultural agent should be, and how they should conduct themselves to better the agricultural industry.”

Bill began his career with Rutgers in 1996 at the level of County Agricultural Agent III with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County, NJ. He attained tenure in 2002 and in 2022 earned the title of County Agent I, equivalent to the rank of Full Professor at Rutgers. His is one of only five agricultural agents at this rank, which is achieved only in recognition of exceptional scholarly work, research, teaching, extension practice, and service.

Education and Prior Employment
Before coming to Rutgers, Bill received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy at Delaware Valley College in 1985. From there he went on to study at Penn State University where he received his Master of Science degree in Agronomy. After graduating from Penn State Bill worked as a Farm Manager for the Plant Genetics Group at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY. His duties included soil, crop, and pest management of field plots, and greenhouse experiments to isolate genetics of corn plants. At Cold Spring Harbor Labs, he worked under the direction of Nobel laureates Dr. James D. Watson, and Dr. Barbara McClintock. Bill then went to Kent County Delaware where he was a Biosolids Utilization Manager, responsible for management and operation of the County Water Pollution Control Facility’s Biosolids Land Application Program. He was the liaison between county government and the agricultural community. Bill’s next employment was as Soil Scientist at Tectonic, Inc., in Doylestown, PA, where he conducted wetland delineations and soil investigations throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. His last job before coming to Rutgers was as a Soil Scientist and Project Manager at Coastal Environmental Services, Inc., in Princeton, NJ, where he was responsible for wetland delineation and mitigation design, regulatory permitting, soil mapping studies, soil erosion and sediment control plan preparation, agricultural best management practices and watershed management studies.

William “Bill” Bamka, at right, practices applying a tourniquet to Burlington County farmer, Matt Stiles, during one of two “Stop the Bleed” training sessions for the NJ ag community that were conducted by the Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group. Photo credit: Danielle Wainwright, NJFB.

Rutgers Research and Outreach Role in Service to NJ Agriculture
Bill is a trusted and respected Agricultural Agent, co-worker, and friend to those at Rutgers and to the Ag community. He has earned this trust and respect by continually showing up for others and going that extra mile (literally) to serve the agricultural industry. His main programming is focused on field crops, but he has also worked on many other areas important to farmers over the years. Some examples are Integrated Pest Management, Direct Marketing and Agritourism, Water Allocations, Biosolids, Equine Pasture Management, Hemp, Malting Barley, Hops, Farm Health and Safety, Hay Management, Outreach Webinar Series, Spotted Lantern Fly Outreach, Homesteading Educational Series, Master Gardeners, and many others.

When it comes to serving farmers, Bill is always the first to say yes and make things happen. When Rutgers shut down in March of 2020 due to COVID restrictions, it was Bill’s idea to start a weekly webinar series with two of his colleagues – “Ask the Agent” to bring farmers together to discuss what was going on and how Rutgers Cooperative Extension could help farmers navigate the pandemic. When the Agricultural Agent who organized the Rutgers Educational Sessions for the annual VGANJ/Ag Convention retired, Bill volunteered to co-chair these duties and he works year-round co-managing this event. When the 2018 Farm Bill provided for states to disseminate permits for hemp production, it was Bill who stepped up to conduct hemp research and provide sound, science-based information to producers. When others were jumping on the “band wagon” telling growers they should jump into this new crop, it was Bill who explained the pitfalls and cautioned growers to thoroughly investigate this new crop. This advice most likely saved some farmers from losing lots of money. This is the job of an Agricultural Agent – to provide science-based, non-biased information – and Bill is one of the best out there.

Awards and Publications
For his exceptional education, research, outreach and service, Bill has received 29 national awards, 15 regional awards, and 16 state awards from professional organizations. He has co-authored chapters in two books: “Rural Policies and Employment: Transatlantic Experiences” and “Pasture Based Livestock Production”. He has written 16 peer reviewed professional journal articles to report his research findings and extension programs and 41 peer reviewed abstracts. Also, he has produced over 200 fact sheets, bulletins, newsletter articles, extension outreach articles and popular press articles on agricultural topics. He has also developed videos, blogs, podcasts, and websites to promote his programming.

Community Service
In his community, Bill has been a volunteer fireman with the William Penn Fire Company since 1996. His service to Rutgers University is impressive, as he has served on numerous search committees, mentoring committees, merit raise committees, commodity working groups, and others. Additionally, he has held leadership roles in and provided service to the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, the National Extension Tourism Professionals, the New Jersey Soybean Board, the National Agronomy Society, NJ Grain and Forage Producers Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and others. He’s often asked to review promotion packets from other universities and recently completed a term on the Rutgers University Appointment and Promotion Committee.

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New Jersey Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Danielle Wainwright and Michelle Infante-Casella.

Michelle Infante-Casella, agricultural agent and department head, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County, was recognized as a “Woman of the Year” by the New Jersey Farm Bureau (NJFB) Women’s Leadership Committee on November 17. Infante-Casella was also recognized with a New Jersey Legislative Joint Commendation from Senator John Burzichelli, Assemblyman David Bailey, and Assemblywoman Heather Simmons at the annual NJFB event. 

Each year, the committee accepts nominations for its “Women of the Year Award” from county Boards of Agriculture, New Jersey commodity groups and individuals.

“After reviewing all of this year’s nominees, we were proud to select Michelle as our award recipient. Michelle’s dedication to New Jersey agriculture with her community involvement, leadership, and mentorship sets her apart. There is truly no one more deserving,” said Danielle Wainwright, chair of the committee.

Infante-Casella is the first woman at Rutgers to achieve the title of County Agent I, equivalent to Full Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), and only one of five faculty members currently in ANR to achieve this rank.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award from women who are leaders in the agricultural industry. I admire their dedication and endless energy in promoting farmers and educating others about where food and fiber come from – the farm, not the store. I am grateful to work with others in our industry who strive to preserve the American farmer,” she said.

Infante-Casella grew up in Cream Ridge, NJ. Raised with a strong work ethic, she was guided by her parents, Michael and Elizabeth Infante, to a career in agriculture. In high school she was a member of the Allentown FFA taught by Jack and Cyndee Roszel. In 1988 she won the FFA State Fruit and Vegetable judging contest and was mentored by the Roszels to attend Delaware Valley University (DVU). She earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture in 1993 from DVU and went on to earn a master’s degree in plant science/sustainable agriculture from Virginia Tech in 1994.

Michelle Infante-Casella, center, flanked by Senator John Burzichelli and Assemblyman David Bailey at NJFB banquet on Nov. 17.

In June 1995, Infante-Casella began her career with Rutgers Cooperative Extension as a Program Associate in Monmouth County. On March 11, 1996, Michelle started her position as a County Agricultural Agent in Gloucester County working mainly with vegetable farmers. Over the course of a 30-year career, her work has expanded beyond vegetable work to many other agricultural programs such as pesticide safety, agritourism, farm health and safety, cover crops, leadership training, agricultural policies, hemp and other areas. She has conducted 58 research projects related to many topics important to farmers in New Jersey and has authored 218 journal articles, abstracts, research reports and fact sheets. To date, she has also written and published 355 newsletter articles and popular press articles on agricultural topics.

She has been recognized by professional organizations for her extension programs and has received 27 national, 10 regional and 22 state awards for her work. In 2024, the Gloucester County Women’s Commission awarded Infante-Casella with its “Women of Achievement Award.” 

Infante-Casella can be relied upon to provide leadership for many important programs and groups. Since 1998, she has chaired or co-chaired the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program in New Jersey. In 2010, she co-wrote the national USDA SARE Fellows program curriculum that educates agricultural professionals from all 50 states. Michelle is often called on as a reviewer for national grants, journal articles and faculty promotion packet reviews from other universities. She serves as the ESF-11 Agricultural liaison to the Gloucester County office of Emergency Services, ex-officio member of the Gloucester County Agricultural Development Board, and she serves as the County Extension Department Head in Gloucester County.

Since 2024, she has co-chaired the Rutgers Educational Program for the annual state convention in Atlantic City, and serves on numerous local, state and national committees in leadership roles or as a technical advisor. As proud as she is of the most recent honor, Infante-Casella will tell you her greatest achievements are her marriage to her husband of 26 years, Benjamin Casella, and their two sons, Ben Jr. and Dominick.

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Erin Comollo.

Please join me in welcoming Erin Comollo to Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) as a Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) Assistant Professor of Teaching. In this role, she will support the FCHS undergraduate minors, Health Equity and Holistic Wellness, manage our experiential learning internships, and lead special projects such as the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network and the FCHS programming at Healthy Harvest.  

Before transitioning to community-engaged research, Comollo was a classroom teacher for more than 12 years. She holds a doctoral degree in Education from Rutgers University, where her dissertation focused on teacher professional development for child health promotion, and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Supervision from The College of New Jersey. This interdisciplinary background informs her approach to creating research that bridges academic rigor with community relevance.

Comollo’s work centers on helping communities improve health equity through evidence-based strategies and collaborative partnerships. She has worked extensively with schools, communities, and organizations across New Jersey to implement nutrition, fitness, and community-based health initiatives. Her research and programming emphasize equity frameworks, social determinants of health, and community engagement practices. She helped develop Rutgers’ interdisciplinary Health Equity and Holistic Wellness minors, which equip undergraduate students with the knowledge and skills to address health inequities through coursework in social determinants of health, equity frameworks, and community engagement practices.

Beyond her academic work, Comollo is a Certified CrossFit Trainer and head nutrition coach. In this capacity, she supports member retention, provides individual nutrition coaching, and coordinates community events that promote fitness and nutrition. This hands-on work complements her research by keeping her connected to the practical realities of behavior change and health promotion. Comollo believes everyone deserves the opportunity to grow healthy and strong and is dedicated to working with others to make that happen through both research and practice.

Please join me in welcoming Erin Comollo to the RCE.

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