Bonnie Lee Appleton honored with emerita status
Bonnie Lee Appleton of Norfolk, Va., professor of horticulture in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “professor emerita” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The title of emerita may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1985, Appleton was based at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. She was instrumental in the development of the department’s off-campus graduate degree program. She was an instructor of many graduate classes and as major advisor to more than 60 master’s degree students.
In addition, she served the nursery, landscape, and tree care industry of Virginia and beyond through extensive applied research and extension programs.
Appleton received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Delaware and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University.
