DAVIS, CA, July 24, 2007…Craig Rous of Bear Creek Winery in Lodi has been confirmed as president of the 2007-2008 American Society for Enology and Viticulture’s (ASEV) board of directors. Rous will lead the 12-member board and build on the successes of Patricia Howe, the immediate past president. Michael Silacci of Opus One was also confirmed by the board to move to First Vice President.

Rous has been an ASEV member and volunteer since 1980. He last served as a board director in 2004, chaired the Society’s scholarship committee for several years and in 1993 received the ASEV Technical Projects Committee’s “Outstanding Work Award”. He received his Bachelor and Master of Science from the University of California, Davis.

Four new board members have been elected. Christian Butzke of Purdue University was elected to serve as the Society’s second vice president. Jim Harbertson of Washington State University will also assume a new seat on the board as Director. Members re-elected are Sara Spayd of North Carolina State University, Raleigh as Secretary-Treasurer and Mike Vail of Agro Tech as Director.

Formed in 1950, ASEV is a professional society dedicated to the interests of enologists, viticulturists and others in the fields of wine and grape research and production throughout the world. The Society’s membership includes professionals from wineries, vineyards, academic institutions and organizations. For more information, visit www.asev.org.

Cornell University
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Food Science & Technology

POSITION:       Extension Associate in Enology 

STARTING DATE:  January 1, 2008 or as negotiated

OVERVIEW:  The rapid growth of the New York State wine industry presents exciting challenges and opportunities. We are seeking candidates for an Extension Associate position that will have responsibilities in a multidisciplinary team in the College of Agriculture and Life Science’s (CALS) Enology and Viticulture program. The successful candidate will be expected to work in collaboration with CALS faculty in Geneva and Ithaca and with state and national wine industry stakeholders (http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/eandv/).

RESPONSIBILITIES:  The incumbent will play a lead role in coordination of enology extension programs and workshops through collaboration with faculty, staff and other statewide extension personnel. These will include educational programs that support the growth and improved quality of premium wines within the state. Examples include organization of statewide wine industry workshops, regional meetings and conferences and coordination of tasting panels to review wine evaluations that are associated with research.
Responsibilities also include the coordination and scheduling of wine fermentations and evaluations that are done in the enology laboratory at Geneva. This will require effective communication with the wine lab staff, and faculty members.  The person in this position will also take part in the preparation of written and on-line extension publications focusing on issues of importance to the NY wine industry.

QUALIFICATIONS:  Minimum of M.S. degree in Enology or Viticulture with a scientific and practical background in wine making and production. The incumbent must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build cooperative, effective working relationships with a wide variety of individuals that include members of the wine and grape industries, university alumni, faculty and staff. Experience in working with the wine industry is desired.

SALARY:  Competitive, commensurate with background and experience. An attractive fringe benefits package is available. Cornell actively encourages applications from women and minority candidates.

DEPARTMENT AFFILIATION:  The successful candidate will be located in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University based in the Department of Food Science and Technology at Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst) in Geneva. This position reports directly to the chair of Food Science and Technology and to the Associate Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension. Food Science departments in CALS, in Geneva and Ithaca, offer comprehensive research, teaching, and extension programs.   

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Send a letter of application, resume, academic transcripts, statement of extension goals and plans, and request that three letters of references be sent to:

Dr. Olga Padilla Zakour
Chair, Enology Extension Associate Search Committee
Department of Food Science & Technology
Cornell University, NYS Agric. Experiment Station
P.O. Box 462, Geneva NY 14456                  
E-mail:  oip1@cornell.edu
Phone:  315-787-2259    Fax:  315-787-2284

Review of applications will begin September 17, 2007 and will continue until the position is filled.

Cornell University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Educator and Employer.

Ad hoc Committee Judges:
Chair: Sara Spayd, North Carolina State University
Enology - Lorenza Conterno, David Stevens, Trevor Phister
Viticulture - Mike Vail, Stan Grant, Merilark Padgett-Johnson, Patty Skinkis