Dean Steve Goodwin (right), of the College of Natural Sciences at UMass Amherst, is shown in the photograph receiving the Guy L. Paris Award from Jim Ward, President of the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers’ Association and owner of Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon, Mass. This prestigious award was presented at the 2013 New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference in December, 2013 in Manchester, New Hampshire.
The Paris Award is given by the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers’ Association to an individual who has provided outstanding service and contributions to the vegetable and small fruit industry in New England. In presenting the award, Ward said, “We are especially grateful for Steve Goodwin’s strong and continuing support for agriculture. He has worked to strengthen agricultural research, teaching and Extension and to return these activities to a place of importance in the University community. He has a strong commitment to agriculture and an appreciation for locally-produced food.”
Dr. Goodwin received a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Maine, an M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia. He earned a Ph.D in Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin. Goodwin then was employed as a research hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. In 1986, he joined the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Department of Microbiology. From 2000 to 2009 he served as Associate Dean and then Dean of the former College of Natural Resources and the Environment. In 2009, he was chosen as Dean of the then newly-created College of Natural Sciences, the largest college at UMass Amherst.
His areas of research include microbial ecology, groundwater microbiology, microbiology of wastewater and microorganisms in energy recovery. He has taught numerous courses in biology and microbiology and has been the recipient of Outstanding Teaching Awards. He is active on the boards of many regional organizations.
The New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference is the premier learning and industry event for New England’s fruit and vegetable growers, researchers, Extension, government, and industry personnel. It is held every other year at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. This year’s conference was held December 17-19, 2013 and attracted 1,700 attendees including 130 trade show exhibitors. For more information, visit the conference website, http://www.newenglandvfc.org.
Submitted by Jon Clements and John Howell. Photo by Jon Clements.
