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CORVALLIS, Ore. – As concerns over the well-being of the environment grow, so does the interest in pest management that emphasizes an integrated approach that includes many different types of management tactics.

Oregon State University Professor Carol Mallory-Smith sees that interest every day in her work in crop and soil science in the College of Agriculture. Her innovative plan to address it, along with her 14-year record of teaching and research excellence at OSU, has resulted in her being named the university’s second L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholar, an honor that carries with it a $20,000 award to support her research.

“Dr. Mallory-Smith is an accomplished and nationally and internationally recognized scholar, actively engaged in an array of successful teaching endeavors,” wrote Crop and Soil Science Department Head Russ Karow in nominating her for the award. “A dynamic individual with demonstrated leadership, she will lead an innovative scholarly team with a collective vision for a new teaching program for OSU.”

Mallory-Smith will lead an initial team consisting of Ken Johnson, a professor of botany and plant pathology, and Sujaya Rao, an associate professor of crop and soil science, in development of new online courses in integrated pest management. The courses will be designed for both students and agricultural professionals, and the team approach will recognize the interaction among diseases, weeds and insects, as well as the need for system-wide approaches to management tactics.

As the courses are developed, additional instructors will be recruited to expand the number of classes, broadening an innovative plant protection program that would be the first of its kind on the West Coast.

“This award will provide the support to address an important issue that we’ve recognized for some time, so I’m not only honored to be recognized, but deeply appreciative of what it will enable us to do,” said Mallory-Smith, who earned her Ph.D. in plant science from the University of Idaho in 1990.

Established in 2005, the L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholars Program recognizes outstanding faculty at OSU and provides resources to stimulate creative advancements in teaching, research and extended education.

Loran L. “Stub” Stewart, a 1932 OSU graduate who died in January 2005, left a $500,000 estate gift to establish the scholar program through the Mr. and Mrs. L.L. Stewart Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. Stewart, a long-time supporter of OSU, wanted to promote teaching excellence at OSU through an annual award given to faculty to keep current in their fields and to improve their educational offerings.