Louise Ferguson has been recognized by the American Society of Horticultural Science for her leadership and contributions. The professor of UC Cooperative Extension assumed the presidency during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she nurtured the organization through its first all-virtual annual conference, a subsequent hybrid conference, and back to a fully in-person conference.
"ASHS gave me opportunities to share my research, develop collaborations, learn leadership skills, see a different part of the USA every year and make lifelong friends," said Ferguson of the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences.
From 2019 to 2022, Ferguson served as ASHS president-elect, president, and chair of the board of directors. She completed her service this August.
Third from right is UC Cooperative Extension Specialist Louise Ferguson, of the Department of Plant Sciences, with past presidents of the American Society of Horticultural Science. Ferguson was honored for her leadership of the organization, which started shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic and continued into August.
During her presidency, Ferguson designed and developed the ASHS Leadership Academy, inaugurating Class I of six fellows in August 2021. The Leadership Academy focuses on helping participants develop a better personal understanding of themselves while building leadership skills. Class I graduated in August; those graduates selected and inaugurated the members of Class II, which also started in August.
Ferguson also was inducted into the Spencer Beach Club, reserved for ASHS members who have donated more than $10,000 to the society's endowment fund. The fund supports student travel to the annual conferences.
"The society has been very helpful to my career. If you just start giving a little bit, it mounts up over time," Ferguson said. "Five coffees out a month, $25 a month, that's all it takes to pay back all ASHS has given you."
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