Faculty and staff honored with annual College of Agriculture and Life Sciences awards
Six faculty and staff members were recognized for contributions in research, outreach, service, and support of the college’s land-grant mission.
Six faculty and staff members from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences were honored for their contributions to research, outreach, service, and the university’s land-grant mission during the college’s 31st annual Faculty and Staff Picnic in September.
Sherif Sherif – Andy Swiger Land-Grant Award
Sherif Sherif, an associate professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center, received the Andy Swiger Land-Grant Award. Sherif’s research addresses challenges facing Virginia’s tree fruit industry, including spring frost, diseases, and disorders that can make fruit unmarketable. He is developing strategies to delay bloom and protect apple and peach crops from late freezes, potentially preventing millions of dollars in losses for Virginia growers. Since joining Virginia Tech in 2017, Sherif has secured more than $3 million in research funding, published 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and shared his findings directly with growers through Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Leigh-Anne Krometis – Saied and Parynaz Mostaghimi Excellence in Applied Research Award
Leigh-Anne Krometis, a professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, received the Saied and Parynaz Mostaghimi Excellence in Applied Research Award. For more than 15 years, Krometis has studied access to safe drinking water in rural communities, particularly in Appalachia. Her research has documented risks from bacteria, lead, PFAS, and other contaminants in private wells and other water sources outside public drinking water systems. She and her collaborators also are testing practical solutions, including household water filters, and expanding wastewater monitoring for disease in rural communities. Krometis has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on approximately 60 grants totaling more than $16 million.
J. Leighton Reid – Saied and Parynaz Mostaghimi Excellence in Basic Research Award
J. Leighton Reid, an associate professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, received the Saied and Parynaz Mostaghimi Excellence in Basic Research Award. A restoration ecologist, Reid studies how ecosystems develop and recover over time, from Virginia’s Piedmont grasslands to tropical forests in Latin America and Madagascar. Reid and his students have documented more than 200 remnants of Piedmont grasslands in Virginia, showing that these ecosystems are more widespread and diverse than previously recognized. Since joining CALS in 2019, he has secured more than $3 million in competitive external funding and received an NSF CAREER Award.
Carlin Rafie – CALS Award for Outreach Excellence
Carlin Rafie, an assistant professor and senior Extension specialist in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, received the CALS Award for Outreach Excellence for her work helping people make informed choices about nutrition and health. Rafie develops programs and partnerships that make reliable health and nutrition information and resources available to individuals and families across the commonwealth. Her approach to building partnerships has attracted attention beyond Virginia, including an invitation to share her work with Extension directors from across the Southern Region.
Melissa Vidmar – Employee of the Year
Melissa Vidmar, marketing, communications, and partnerships manager in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, was named the 2025-26 Employee of the Year. Vidmar oversees the department’s communications, marketing, and external partnerships while contributing to department and college initiatives. Her nominators praised her professionalism, creativity, enthusiasm, and service. One wrote that if they were building a team from the ground up, Vidmar would be the first person they would hire.
Ann Sandbrook – CALSFA Ut Prosim Excellence in Service Award
Ann Sandbrook, food chemistry laboratory manager in the Department of Food Science and Technology, received the CALS Faculty Association Ut Prosim Excellence in Service Award. Sandbrook’s service beyond her regular responsibilities includes student professional development, experiential learning, industry outreach, and international engagement. She led the revival of the Fermentation Career Fair after a five-year gap, creating opportunities for students to connect with employers and find internships and jobs. She also guest lectures, teaches an industry outreach course, works with international students, and supports programs for high school students.
