Anton Baudoin honored with emeritus status
Anton Baudoin, associate professor of plant and environmental sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of associate professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The emeritus title may be conferred on retired faculty members who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.
A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 42 years, Baudoin made significant contributions through his research on grapevine diseases and fungicide resistance, discovering for the first time in North America that grapevine pathogens had developed resistance to several commonly used fungicide groups. His research also contributed to the understanding of plant pathogens as potential biological control agents of weeds, the epidemiology of boxwood blight, and of Entomosporium leafspot of photinia.
In the classroom, Baudoin taught or co-taught more than 3,900 students in several courses, including, for the Agricultural Technology associate’s degree, Pest Management: Insects, Diseases, and Weeds; undergraduate courses on Principles of Biology, Plant Pathology, and Integrated Pest Management; and graduate courses on Principles of Plant Disease Management, Diseases of Crop Plants, Epidemiology of Plant Diseases, and Identifying Plant Pathogens.
Baudoin was awarded a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 2003 and 2016, as well as the university’s William E. Wine Award in 2017. He advised or co-advised six Ph.D. students, 10 master’s degree students, served on more than 45 additional graduate student advisory committees, and helped students to have successful careers in both academic and industrial settings.
He served as editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed journal, Plant Health Instructor, for the American Phytopathological Society (APS). He received the APS Excellence in Teaching Award in 1994; served as vice president, president, and past-president in the APS Potomac Division; and was awarded the APS Potomac Division's Distinguished Service Award in 2004. He frequently participated in Virginia Cooperative Extension programming for grape growers, Master Gardeners, and others across the state.
Baudoin received his master’s degree from Wageningen University (Netherlands) and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside.
