Dr. Anton Baudoin received his Ph.D. in plant pathology at the University of California, Riverside in 1980. He has been on the faculty at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University since 1980, with teaching as the major part of his appointment. Anton has a long standing reputation for teaching excellence both within his department and across campus. He teaches a total of seven courses in his own department as well as in biology and weed science. One of the things students mention most often about Anton is his genuine concern for them and going out of his way to explain the important concepts. He is frequently sought out by his colleagues for advice on presenting material in their courses and is consistently mentioned as one of the best teachers students have had the pleasure of encountering.
Anton's research has focused on fungal diseases of grapes including Botrytis bunch rot, sour rot, black rot, and powdery mildew. He has determined the feasibility and benefits of vineyard weather monitoring and the use of a Botrytis infection model to optimize spray timing against Botrytis bunch rot, and contributed new insights in the role of grape cluster debris in Botrytis infection. Another area of research has been the evaluation of weed pathogens for their potential for biological control of weeds. This research has included the study of smut on crabgrass, rust disease on musk thistle, and rose rosette disease of multiflora rose. Anton has contributed to our knowledge of the impacts of these diseases on non-target hosts, native plant species, population dynamics and spread of these diseases.
Anton has been an active member of APS, having served on and rotating through the chair positions of the Teaching Committee. In the Potomac Division, he has also served on or chaired just about every committee in the division including the Program Committee, Resolutions committee, Local Arrangements committee, and Graduate Student Award committee. From 1996 to 99, he was our admirably efficient Secretary-Treasurer, and from 2000 to 01 he served as our energetic and conscientious Vice President and President. In those five years, he was, and still remains the life of the Division. It was Anton who organized the Potomac division web site and who has maintained it to this date allowing our members to enjoy the benefits of regular postings of meetings, updates and historical information about the division that would otherwise be lost or difficult to remember. Whenever there is a question about procedure, or how we did something in the past, it is Anton who comes to the rescue with his incredible memory and caring for the integrity of the division.
Let us all join in bestowing this Distinguished Service Award on Dr. Anton Baudoin.
