Davis, Calif., February 26, 2020…A prominent player in the Washington viticulture scene, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist Dr. Michelle Moyer, has been confirmed by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) to receive the Extension Distinction Award. Dr. Moyer will present “Land Grants and Grapes: Traditional Approaches for Modern Extension Programs” at the Joint 71^st ASEV National Conference and 45^th ASEV Eastern Section Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, this June.

After receiving her doctorate in Plant Pathology at Cornell University, Dr. Moyer became a faculty member of the Washington State University’s Department of Horticulture, and a member of the Viticulture and Enology program, in 2011. As an extension specialist, she is responsible for providing viticulture education throughout Washington state, which includes classic extension efforts such as workshops and field days, to teaching in their online Viticulture and Enology Certificate program. Her applied research program focuses on integrated pest management, with an emphasis on the interface between plant physiology and pest management.

“It is an honor to have this opportunity to be an educator, which allows me to be that link between research and the people who can truly benefit from the knowledge gleaned from research solutions,” said Dr. Moyer. “And for your work to be recognized by your peers provides the validation that you’re on the right path and the motivation to push for something even better,” said Dr. Moyer. 

She is currently working on a variety of research and extension projects, which include nematode management, rootstock evaluations, trunk disease management, sprayer optimization and education, and powdery mildew management. She is also investigating fungicide resistance with her work as a project director for a USDA-SCRI-CAP project, titled “FRAME: Fungicide Resistance Assessment, Mitigation and Extension Network for Wine, Table and Raisin Grapes.”

Dr. Moyer joined ASEV in 2009 and is currently a board director. Since 2016, she has been an associate editor for the Society’s journals, the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (AJEV) and Catalyst: Discovery into Practice. She was also part of the ASEV Applied Science Publication Development Ad Hoc Committee in 2015 and a session moderator at the 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017 National Conferences.

The ASEV Extension Distinction Award is given to a current ASEV member and extension educator based on his or her contribution of: (1) information in enology or viticulture through his or her extension program, or (2) the translation of novel research findings into commercially applicable tools for enologists or viticulturists. 

Founded in 1950 by a group of researchers and winemakers, the ASEV is dedicated to the interests of enologists, viticulturists and others in the fields of wine and grape research and production throughout the world. The ASEV National Conference features presentations on the industry’s latest research and is an ideal networking opportunity for attendees. For more information about the Joint 71^st ASEV National Conference and 45^th ASEV Eastern Section Annual Meeting taking place on June 15-18, 2020, in Portland, Oregon, visit www.asev.org.

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