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Candidates for the Academic Director
Pamela Sherratt
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Pam Sherratt is the Sports Turf Extension Specialist at The Ohio State University, though her appointment also encompasses field research, and she teaches four turfgrass classes including an online sports turf certificate course. Her humble beginnings and her bachelors degree were in horticulture until she did a summer internship at Turnberry Golf Courses in Scotland; then her attention turned to turf. She started teaching in 1990 at Myersough College in the northwest of England, where she managed further education courses such as the National Diploma in Turfgrass Science. At this point she focused her attention more on sports turf and worked with students on the soccer, rugby and cricket facilities. She came to Ohio State in 1999 to do her masters degree in turf, and afterwards she stayed on, first as a research associate with Dr. John Street and then in her current position. She received the OSTMA Founders Award in 2002, the STMA’s William H. Daniel Founders Award in 2003 and the OTF Professional Excellence Award in 2004. She serves on committees for STMA, OTF and OSU Athletics, and she writes for several publications. She also runs an annual sports turf short course and helps to organize sports turf internships for OSU students, both in the USA and abroad. Future goals include doing her PhD and developing more on-line courses. She has been very happily married to a fellow brit, Craig, for 13 years and they have two young sons, Jack & Danny.
Vision for STMA:
While there are some sports turf managers who have achieved professional status in the workplace, the sports turf industry still has a long way to go to get the recognition and respect it deserves, especially in the public sector. The role of STMA is to provide the absolute best resources for sports turf managers so they can advance their knowledge of turf management, and learn the best techniques in communication and people management. This is done through CSFM programs, by Field of the Year programs, by advocating and funding scholarships, national conference attendance, seminars and online courses. I am particularly supportive of students and young professionals that are seeking ways to advance in the industry and would like to obtain employment at sports facilities not just in the USA, but abroad. If I am selected to serve in a educational capacity, I would want my legacy to be that I have helped as many of our young people as possible get the financial support, the recognition, the inclusion at the national level, the internships, jobs and promotions that they deserve.
vs.
John Sorochan, Ph.D.
University of Tennessee
John Sorochan, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences for the University of Tennessee, where he is responsible for turfgrass research and teaching. He serves on the STMA Conference Education and Information Outreach Committees and has served on its Scholarship Committee. He is a member of the Tennessee Valley STMA Chapter, has been a member of the STMA since 1995.
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, John began working on the grounds crew at Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in 1988. He attended Michigan State University (MSU) and graduated from the 2-year Golf Turfgrass Management Program in 1993. John starting working for Dr. John (Trey) Rogers, III and Dr. John Stier (University of Wisconsin) for the Pontiac Silverdome World Cup Soccer Project. Enjoying the sports turf research, he began his Masters of Science research while being duo enrolled as an undergraduate and graduate student in 1995. He graduated with a Masters of Science Degree in Crop and Soil Sciences (MSU) in 1999. During his Masters, John became Dr. Trey Rogers’ Research Technician responsible for all sports turf research being conducted at MSU. In 2007, John won the W.F. & Golda Moss Outstanding Teaching Award for the University of Tennessee College of Ag and Natural Resources, but his proudest accomplishment since being at UT has been the success of his students as STMA scholarship winners and the student challenge trophy in 2007.
Vision for STMA:
I am enthusiastically accepting the nomination for the STMA Board of Directors, Academic position. I believe that I have a lot to offer because I have the leadership abilities that will positively benefit the mission of the STMA. It has been my focus as an educator to promote the sports turf industry through research, teaching, public outreach, and by being an active steward for the Sports Turf Managers Association. Since I first began attending the STMA Conference as a student, I have been committed to promoting the excellence of the STMA by actively participating on committees and focusing my career in academia to benefit both the STMA and sports turf industry as a whole. I also believe it is important to take STMA sponsored events serious; therefore, I have been a proponent where students from the University of Tennessee regularly apply for scholarships available, and for the first time in the history of the turf program at the University of Tennessee, a student team competed in the turf student challenge.
As the STMA Academic Director, I envision my role as continuing the excellent growth of the association and public awareness of the professionalism of the industry. I think it is important for the STMA to be recognized as a major resource for all people involved in the turfgrass industry from sports turf managers to commercial turf professionals to academicians. It would be a goal of mine to have more university academicians and students actively involved with the STMA.