DATE: 3/18/05

CONTACT: Dr. Susan Barefoot, (864) 656-3140

Dr. Fran Wolak, (864) 656-3382

Dr. Merle Shepard, (843) 402-5398

Dr. James A. Rushing, (843) 402-5388

WRITER: Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343, ext. 241

Director at Coastal REC will return to research

CHARLESTON – Merle Shepard, director of Clemson University’s Coastal Research and Education Center at Charleston for more than 15 years, will give up the position by the end of March in order to concentrate on his entomology research and international programs.

Horticulturist Jim Rushing will serve as interim director until a search can be conducted for a permanent director, according to Fran Wolak, chief operating officer for Clemson Extension, and Susan Barefoot, chief operating officer for the Clemson University Experiment Station.

“Dr. Shepard has served the Coastal REC, Public Service Activities and Clemson University extremely well in the role of director since 1988,” said Barefoot.

“He will continue his active entomology research and outreach program and his service as director of the Archbold Tropical Research Center in Dominica,” she said.

“On behalf of the PSA administration, we thank Dr. Shepard for his many years of service, and we appreciate Dr. Rushing’s willingness to serve as interim director,” said Wolak. He noted that Rushing heads a nationally recognized research and Extension program in post-harvest fruit and vegetable physiology and safety.

Rushing came to Clemson in 1985 after receiving a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He left in 1991 for three years to work as a post-harvest management consultant in Chile, returning to his current position in 1994. He has also spent one year on sabbatical with the Food and Drug Administration as a visiting scientist.

A Spanish speaker, Rushing has worked in more than 25 countries during his career. His research program is on medicinal plant physiology and biochemistry.

Shepard has two and a half years left under the state TERI program, and he plans to use that time doing research into integrated pest management techniques for vegetables and carrying out international programs.

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