What's better than a lecture on plant poisons? A Golden Apple

Reid Smeda surprised with award during plant poisons lecture

Reid Smeda was nominated by Mary Ann Gowdy, teaching assistant professor in plant sciences, for the Golden Apple award.

After a short hiatus, the Golden Apple Award is back. This time, Reid Smeda, associate professor in the Division of Plant Sciences, was lecturing on plant poisons with his class when a group from the division and dean's office came in to present him with his new trophy.

The CAFNR Golden Apple Award is designed to recognize faculty in the College who excel and go above and beyond in teaching and/or advising.

Smeda earned degrees in crop and soil sciences and horticulture from Michigan State University. He earned his Ph.D. in plant physiology from Purdue University.

At MU, Smeda is a weed physiologist and has a research/teaching appointment in weed science. His research focuses on development of alternative weed management systems for corn, soybean and vegetables; identification of resistance mechanisms in herbicide-resistant weeds; and the biology and control of invasive weeds in roadside and other non-crop areas.

For the last nine years he has served as the Agronomy Club adviser.

He teaches Principles of Weed Science and co-instructs a graduate course on Weed Science Research Principles and Techniques. He also serves as the Director for Undergraduate Programs in the Division of Plant Sciences.

Learning is enhanced when students are entertained and actively involved in the learning process

Reid Smeda and Shari Freyermuth, interim assistant dean, share a laugh with his students about his entertaining and personable teaching style which includes his 'when I was a kid my dad made me...' stories. Freyermuth spoke about Smeda's many contributions to CAFNR.

To be eligible for the CAFNR Golden Apple award, faculty members must demonstrate clarity, variability and enthusiasm. They need to be accessible to students, helpful, personable and act as a mentor that students can turn to for advice and direction.

Nominees should be well-prepared for classes and encourage creative work. They should demonstrate how they provide opportunities for learning, teaching to clearly established objectives and expectations.

Smeda was nominated by Mary Ann Gowdy, teaching assistant professor and winner of the William T. Kemper Fellow for Excellence in Teaching award. In her nomination letter she said Smeda succeeds as a teacher because he's dedicated to teaching students how to learn, sets high standards for them, and makes it a priority to help them excel.

"Reid is cognizant that learning is enhanced when students are entertained and actively involved in the learning process, so he frequently uses his 'when I was a kid my dad made me...' stories to reinforce course content," Gowdy said. "His students enjoy these stories and see the subject matter being utilized in a real-life setting."

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CAFNR Plant Sciences

Posted Feb. 19, 2009
Story by Randy Mertens
Photos by Genevieve Howard