Selected Biographies of Recent Hires

Because of your ongoing support of Clemson Public Service Activities, we have been able to hire innovative scientists to advance agriculture and natural resources industries. Here are some recent appointments.

Brian Beer, Livestock Agent Brian Beer, Livestock Agent
Brian Beer joined Clemson as an area livestock agent to assist producers in Chester and Lancaster Counties. Previously, he was an Extension agent in North Carolina and served on the N.C. Association of County Agricultural Agents, board of directors and as chairman of several committees. He received the Young Agent Scholarship Award from the N.C. Association of County Agriculture Agents in 2000.
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Will Henderson, Precision Agriculture Agent Will Henderson, Precision Agriculture Agent
Will Henderson joined Clemson as an Extension associate with statewide responsibility for precision agriculture. He earned his master’s degree in biosystems engineering at Clemson. He provides support to growers using variable rate technology, computer application and mapping systems, GPS technology, and guidance systems.
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Dr. Daniel Hitchcock, Water Quality ScientistDr. Daniel Hitchcock, Water Quality Scientist
Dan Hitchcock joined the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and is located at the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science in Georgetown. He brings water quality expertise and nearly 15 years of experience in ecology, toxicology, hydrology, and engineering to the South Carolina coast. His research focuses on water quality impacts in coastal areas, primarily due to urban development and land use change. His previous position as an Extension Specialist with SC Sea Grant has allowed him to develop necessary relationships for the effective delivery of sciencebased information and solutions to stakeholders in coastal communities, including regulators, resource managers, local officials, homeowners, and various professionals such as developers, planners, engineers, and landscape architects.
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Dr. Charlotte Krugler, Animal Emergency Coordinator Dr. Charlotte Krugler, Animal Emergency Coordinator
Charlotte Krugler joined Livestock-Poultry Health as the statewide animal emergency coordinator. Her certification as a foreign animal disease diagnostician, as well as her veterinary degree and advanced public health training are invaluable for her responsibilities. In this critical position, she develops plans and coordinates the state’s ability to prevent, mitigate, and respond to agroterrorism, foreign animal diseases, zoonotic diseases, plant diseases, or other natural disasters. She is vital to Clemson’s role as the lead agency for the state’s animal/agriculture emergency preparedness and response. She serves on the state Agroterrorism and Food Safety Subcommittee as a subject matter expert on animal emergency planning and response issues.
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Dr. Michael Martin, Veterinary EpidemiologistDr. Michael Martin, Veterinary Epidemiologist
Michael Martin was hired to analyze laboratory and surveillance data to detect and track the distribution of disease trends and patterns in the state’s livestock and poultry populations. He is a board-certified veterinarian and is highly skilled in biostatics and informatics. He brought Clemson’s Animal Health Programs into the computer age of investigating disease outbreaks. He developed programs that link animal identification data with livestock facilities, disease information, geographic information systems (GIS), and the state Premises Identification Database. The state database consolidates various livestock/ poultry data and links it with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) premises registration data for comprehensive disease tracking ability.
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Chris Mortensen, Equine Specialist Chris Mortensen, Equine Specialist
Chris Mortensen joins PSA from Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M, he worked closely with worldrenowned leaders in animal reproduction. He attended California State University, Fresno and was the Department of Agriculture’s Graduate Deans Medalist for outstanding research and scholar achievement. In response to the disasters that struck the regions of Texas and Louisiana in 2005, horse owners were ill prepared to face the challenges of evacuating their animals. By working closely with the State of South Carolinas Department of Agriculture, Clemson’s Equine Extension Service will be preparing horse owners in this state to better prepare and respond to natural disasters. He is also a Captain in the US Army (ret).
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Dr. Francis Reay-Jones Row Crop Entomologist Dr. Francis Reay-Jones,Row Crop Entomologist
Francis Reay-Jones is located at the Pee Dee Research & Education Center at Florence. He works with growers to implement environmentally sound management strategies for insect pests in agricultural cropping systems that will allow them to be economically competitive in the marketplace. He brings a strong, diverse background in inset pest management to our programs. While completing his doctoral degree at Louisiana State University, he received awards from the Louisiana / Florida Divisions of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, along with the Robert T. Gast Award from the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. He also received the L.D. Newsom Outstanding PhD Student Award from the LSU Department of Entomology.
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Dr. Powell Smith, Horticulture Agent Dr. Powell Smith, Horticulture Agent
Powell Smith has been designated as area horticulture agent, located in Lexington County. He assists agents and growers outside of the midlands areas with vegetable/ small fruit production and pest management projects. He also conducts research to develop and refine sustainable pest management practices for vegetable and small fruit crops. He has won numerous communication awards from the South Carolina and National County Agricultural Agents Associations for programs extending pest management and production information to vegetable and small fruit growers. He is well-known around the Southeast and is often asked to speak at grower meetings in neighboring states and regional conferences.
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Lee Van Vlake, Livestock AgentLee Van Vlake, Livestock Agent
Lee Van Vlake is an area livestock agent in the Pee Dee region. He advises beef cattle producers, horse owners and 4-H youth on improving herd health and pasture management, selecting appropriate forages and feeding regimens, controlling weeds, managing livestock facilities, and breeding and marketing cattle. He is a Clemson graduate who was a member of the Block and Bridle Club and won numerous awards, including the Work Horse Award, the Outstanding Junior Award, and the President’s Award.
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Dr. Liang Jiang Wang, Bioinformatics Dr. Liang Jiang Wang, Bioinformatics
L.J. Wang conducts research in biological databases, machine learning, molecular recognition, gene function and regulation. He earned his doctorate in molecular biology at the University of Georgia, and previously held research positions at Kansas State University, SUNY-Buffalo, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, and San Diego Supercomputer Center. He has published 20 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has two patents pending. The science of bioinformatics uses computers to collect, store, classify and analyze molecular genetic data; and the results can provide information to improve crops, livestock or human health.
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Dr. Pawel Wiatrak, Agronomist Dr. Pawel Wiatrak, Agronomist
Pawel Wiatrak joined the Department of Entomology, Soils and Plant Sciences after spending more than 13 years at the University of Florida. His accomplishments include releasing disease and insect resistant corn varieties for late planting and developing effective fungicide treatments to control Asian soybean rust disease. His research and extension programs at the Edisto Research & Education Center focus on improving soybean and corn production practices related to plant management and fertilization, conservation tillage, cropping systems, economic viability, and environmental health. He also coordinates the statewide corn and soybean demonstration trials, which are vital for maintaining growers’ profitability.
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Dr. David Willis, Water Resources Economist Dr. David Willis, Water Resources Economist
David Willis joined the Department of Applied Economics and Statistics as a natural resource economist specializing in water resource issues. Prior to joining Clemson, he was a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Texas Tech University for eight years, where he twice received the departmental outstanding graduate faculty teaching award. During this period, he was either the principal investigator or coprincipal investigator of eight federal or state research grants totaling $1.5 million. He has published and presented more than 40 professional papers focusing on water economics and water policy issues.
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In addition to these positions, searches are underway for other critical positions, including:

  • Biotechnology scientists
  • Commercial horticulture agents
  • Genetics and nutrition scientists
  • Soil fertility specialist
  • Turf integrated pest management specialist
  • Veterinary pathologist
  • Watershed management specialist

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Page maintained by: Walker Massey, emassey@clemson.edu