Listed below are the proposed memberships for the primary standing and ad hoc committees and other service assignments in the department for the 2026-27 year. The chair of each committee, where one is needed, is indicated by italics. Adjustments are made through the academic year as needed based on changes of appointment, sabbaticals, or other adjustments to service capacity.
Department Chair
Paul Koch
Standing Committees
Academic Affairs
Chairs: Undergraduate Chair – DiGennaro; Graduate Chair – Kabbage
Members: Chevrette, Giraldo, Hyzer, Kasten, Laabs
Curriculum
Chair: Lankau
Members: Bigott, Haefner, Kasten, Kabbage, Karimi, Laabs, Rakotondrafara
Inclusive Excellence
Chair: Solis Lemus
Members: Chen, Chevrette, Gluck-Thaler, Rakotondrafara, Student rep TBD
Lectures and Seminar
Chair: Holland
Member: DeVore
Long-range Planning
Chair: Holland
Members: Gevens, Koch (ex officio), Lankau, Smith
Merit Review
Chair: Smith
Members: DiGennaro, Gevens, Koch (ex-officio)
Promotions and Post-tenure Review
Members: Gevens, Koch, Rakotondrafara
Publicity, Nominations, and Development
Chair: Gevens
Members: Jacobs, Silva
Qualifying Exam
Chair: Lankau
Members: Bent, DiGennaro, Jacobs
Space, Equipment, and Safety
Chair: Smith
Members: Holland, Lorenz, Silva, Trickle
Ad Hoc Committees
Chevrette Mentoring
Chair: Solis Lemus
Members: Lankau, Thomas (Bacteriology)
Gluck-Thaler Mentoring
Chair: Keller
Members: Kabbage, Pringle (Botany & Bacteriology)
Jacobs Mentoring
Chair: Bent
Members: Kabbage, Mandel (MMI)
Computational Biology Major
Chair: Solis Lemus
Members: Chevrette, Gluck-Thaler, Lankau
Other Service Assignments
Associate Chair
Gevens (2026-27)
Authorized Signatures on Documents
Barak, Bent, Gevens, Kabbage, Lankau, Smith
Complaint or Harassment Contacts
Bigott, Kasten, Laabs, Solis-Lemus
Diversity Representative to CALS
Gevens
Faculty Senate
Holland (Senator), Gluck-Thaler (Alternate)
Friday @ Four
Kabbage
Plant Pathology Graduate Council Advisor
Kabbage
Plant Pathology Undergraduate Club Advisor
DiGennaro
Voting Academic Staff
Halterman, Bigott
WSPCP Director
Gevens
Plant Pathology Graduate Council Representation for 2026-2027
Chairperson: Susana Giraldo
Social: Melette DeVore
Secretary: Casey Trickle
Student and Postdoc Seminars Organizer: Amit Sharma and Ben Haefner
Treasurer: Lucia Hyzer