Job well done UGA's Ellen Bauske retires

Job well done

UGA's Ellen Bauske retires

Effective December 2021, Ellen Bauske, Senior Public Service Associate Plant Pathology, Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture (GCUA) and longtime Georgia Urban Ag Council board member has retired.

Ellen Bauske joined UGA’s Center for Urban Agriculture in 2005. Recently she was a member of the Department of Plant Pathology, where she coordinated Center programs in urban water, safety training, local food, turfgrass, and arboriculture. Her primary charge was to increase the impact of UGA Extension outreach in Georgia’s urban areas. Bauske focused on the development and implementation of programs to deliver training through the county extension system. To do this, she worked with specialists, county agents and Master Gardener Extension volunteers, urban ag industry representatives, and others. Thousands of landscape and tree care workers have participated in her safety training programs and Hispanic worker outreach programs. Master Gardeners throughout the southeast have benefited from her programs in IPM, tree care, and water conservation. Quick to adopt new technologies and methods, Bauske led the charge in distance learning and other innovative outreach efforts.

Bauske is widely regarded as the “mother” of the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH). This first-of-its-kind, national level collaboration of industry and academia, has worked to elevate the image of consumer horticulture as the cultivation, use and enjoyment of plants, gardens, landscapes and related horticultural items to the benefit of individuals, communities and the environment.

Her work on training saw safety for arborists and related professionals was exemplary in its quality and reached far beyond the scope of Georgia. Throughout her career, Bauske received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions. She has been the recipient of the University of Georgia’s Walter B. Hill Award for Public Outreach, and the Outstanding Extension Specialist award from the American Society for Horticultural Sciences.

Bodie Pennisi, professor of horticulture and Extension landscape specialist, reflected, “Ellen’s tireless efforts, great ideas, and willingness to help has made her a tremendous team partner for outreach and research projects. She has always gone out of her way to mentor young faculty and help further their professional development. Ellen’s vision for NICH has shaped the national conversation on consumer horticulture and will have strong impact for years to come.” Josh Fuder, an ANR county agent from Cherokee county, said, “I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Bauske as a member of the Saw Safety Team and the Agent Writing Team. Dr. Bauske is a dynamic professional that embodies the mission of Extension. Her leadership, creativity, and support made my job and that of many agents better!” Clint Waltz, professor and Extension turfgrass specialist, shared, “By making it a priority to use county extension agents, Dr. Bauske effectively blended the county delivery system and timely training topics for the green industry. Her programs utilized the expertise of many to keep an industry safe, productive, and profitable.” Mary Kay Woodworth, Executive Director of the Urban Ag Council, noted, "In all aspects of her work, Dr. Bauske demonstrated remarkable leadership, initiative, and organizational abilities. Due to her public and private sector experience, she was uniquely qualified to understand and bridge the gap between the goals and missions of the University and those of the urban ag industry's business owners and leaders."