ASEV Selects Dr. Monica Cooper of UC Cooperative Extension to Receive 2019 Extension Distinction Award
Davis, Calif., March 22, 2019…Farm Advisor Dr. Monica Cooper of University of California Cooperative Extension, Napa Valley, is the recipient of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture’s (ASEV) Extension Distinction Award for 2019. Dr. Cooper will receive a plaque and monetary award at the 70th ASEV National Conference on June 19, 2019, in Napa, California, where she will be presenting, “Building Effective Extension Networks to Support Data-Driven Decision Making.”
Dr. Monica Cooper joined UC Cooperative Extension in Napa County in 2009 as a viticulture farm advisor. Her applied research and outreach programs provide data-driven information to the vineyard industry. She directs the Napa Valley Vineyard Technical Group, a local forum for technical information and collaborative learning. Fluent in Spanish, she also offers education programming to farmworkers.
Dr. Cooper’s early career was defined by programs addressing invasive pests such as vine mealybug and European grapevine moth. Her current research interests include disease epidemiology, pest management, rootstock evaluation, labor issues affecting farmworkers and improving extension delivery. Educated as a “plant doctor” at the University of Florida, Dr. Cooper has multidisciplinary training in plant pathology, entomology, soils and plant science that she draws on to help growers diagnose vineyard problems. She previously worked at University of California, Berkeley, on the development and evaluation of IPM programs for arthropod pests in vineyards, apples and olives. She has co-authored 32 peer-reviewed publications, 84 extension publications, delivered 65 educational presentations and organized an average of 20 outreach events per year. She serves as an associate editor for ASEV’s journals.
“I’m pleased to be recognized by the Society, and gratefully acknowledge the support of growers, colleagues, mentors and friends who comprise my extension network and make my work so rewarding,” said Dr. Cooper.
Started in 2014, ASEV presents its Extension Distinction Award to a current extension educator who has demonstrated his or her outstanding contribution of: (1) information in enology and viticulture through his or her extension program, or (2) the translation of novel research findings into commercially applicable tools for enologist or viticulturists.
In 1950, the ASEV National Conference was established as an annual meeting by a committee of industry and academic representatives comprised of founding leaders such as Maynard Amerine, James Guymon, Joseph Heitz, Louis P. Martini, Harold Olmo, Andre Tchelistcheff, A.W. Webb and A.J. Winkler. The event serves as the wine and grape industry’s platform for progress, offering a unique combination of continued professional education to scientific rigor and fundamental practice. The diverse and comprehensive program includes seminars addressing topics of daily experience in the winery and vineyard, as well as reports and updates on original research, and enology and viticulture work in progress.
Open to all industry and academic representatives, the ASEV National Conference provides an ideal opportunity for networking among members of all U.S. wine and grape regions, as well as international experts and professionals. For the latest information about the 70th ASEV National Conference taking place in Napa, California, on June17-20 at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel, visit www.asev.org.
