GSA Bulletin - Welcome to Alabama A&M University

Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Sciences
Alabama A&M University
GSA Mission 1
New Graduate Students 1
Accomplishments 2
Seminar Series (PLESJOC) 3
Reports from President 3
Financial Report 4
Conferences 4
Editorial 4
Volume 3, Number 1
Spring ‘07 - Spring ‘08
http://webspace.aamu.edu/gsaNRES
GSA Mission
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences supports and promotes student education and graduate student life at Alabama
A & M University. This includes creating programs and assisting graduate students during their
transition from students to professionals.
Graduate Students
Name: Earl Russell from Maryland, US (Fall ‘06)
Advisor: Dr. R.P. Pacumbaba Jr.
Degree pursuing: MS
Research: Identity of heat stable antibacterial compounds from
the mycelial leachate of shiitake mushroom
Name: Geraldine Moss from Georgia, US (Spr. ‘08)
Advisor: Dr. Ramesh Kantety
Degree pursuing: MS
Research: Gene expression studies on cotton-reniform nematode
interactions
Name: Roberts Ebow McEwan from Ghana (Spr. ‘07)
Advisor: Dr. Ramesh Kantety
Degree pursuing: MS
Research: Development of quantitative PCR assay for the detection
of reniform nematodes in soils.
Name: Sasikiran Sangireddy from India ( Spr. ‘07)
Advisor: Dr. Rufina Ward
Degree pursuing: MS
Research: Bionomics and control of major insect pests on canola
Name: Lorrabelle Hill from Alabama, US (Spr. ‘08)
Advisor: Dr. Teferi Tsegaye
Degree pursuing: MS
Research: Microbial source tracking for water quality
Name: Stephanie Freeman from Illinois, US (Spr. ‘08)
Advisor: Xiongwen Chen
Degree pursuing: Ph.D.
Research: Air quality and land use in Alabama
Name: Ogochukwu Onyiri from Nigeria (Fall ‘07)
Advisor: Dr. Regine Mankolo
Degree pursuing: Ph.D.
Research: Soil chemistry of Organic farm land
Name: Natosha Simpson from Georgia, US (Spr. ‘08)
Advisor: Dr. Ramesh Kantety
Degree pursuing: MS
Research: Gene expression studies on cotton-reniform nematode
interactions
Name: Omidiran Yinusa Adeboye from Nigeria (Spr. ‘07)
Advisor: Dr. Emerson Z. Nyakatawa
Degree pursuing: MS
Research: Nitrogen and phosphorous mineralization in composted
mulch berms on simulated military training landscapes
Name: Xavier Ndona_Makusa from D.R. Congo (Fall ‘07)
Advisor: Dr. Kozma Naka
Degree pursuing: MS
Research: Impact of woody biomass harvesting on sustainable
forest management.
Name: Timothy Baldwin from Michigan (Spr. ‘07)
Advisor: Dr. Yong Wang
Degree pursuing: Ph.D.
Research: Pool breeding amphibian response to multi-scale forest disturbance

Page 2 “Words of Encouragement from the Chair”
Volume 3, Number 1
Greetings to Graduate Students:
Welcome to the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (NRES). It is my privilege to offer words of encouragement
and inspiration to you as you work towards attaining your graduate degree. It is my hope that your matriculation here at
Alabama A&M University is a rewarding, challenging, and educational experience. As faculty, we are here to serve as intellectual and
professional mentors and advisors. Our objective is to assist you in developing good writing, oral, quantitative, and other professional
skills, and prepare you towards a professional career in area required of scientists working in the Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences.
I encourage you to maintain a good academic record and to remain focused and committed to your graduate program. In addition,
I challenge you to develop good quality research that is conducted in a timely and ethical manner. Take advantage of all of the opportunities
offered to you and never fail to follow your dreams. We invite you to strive for academic excellence and become a part of
the legacy that this department has created. Lastly, always remember that the success of this department depends on the professional
and academic relationship that exists among our faculty and you.
Good Luck.
Teferi Tsegaye
Chair of NRES
Highlights of Events 2007-2008
1) Addition of 700 level Scientific Writing and Graduate Seminar
courses offered in all semesters
2) Secured access to parking lots for grad students
Above: Grad students at
STEM day 2008 presentation
Left: Grad students with
Chairman at ASA meetings
3) Participated and presented research papers at AAMU’s Agricultural
and Environmental Week, April 21-26, 2007
4) Raised funds and food for needy children of Huntsville
5) Increase in stipend for Graduate Assistants
Presentations
Gagan Kaur, U. R. Bishnoi and E. Cebert. 2007. Polymer seed coating effect winter canola seedling establishment. Presented poster at
ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meetings , New Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8. (2nd prize)
Gurudev Mayalagu, S. R. Mentreddy and J. Kloepper. 2007. Organic no-till vegetable production system: Weed management with cover
crops. Poster presented at ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meeting, New Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8.
Maheteme Gebremedhin, T. Tsegaye, M. Wagaw, M. Silitonga, O. Mbuya and A. Johnson. 2007. Measuring carbon and energy exchange
over a no-till agriculture using the eddy covariance technique. Poster presented at ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meetings, New
Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8.
Lekhanath Paudel and U. R. Bishnoi. 2008. Effect of herbicides and intercultivation on weed biomass and canola yield. Poster presented
at ASA CSSA SSSA Annual Meetings, Houston, TX, Oct. 5-9.
Paul Okweye, T. D. Tsegaye, and K. Golson-Garner 2007. Distribution of heavy metals in surface water of the Wheeler Lake Basin in
Northern Alabama. Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Restoration 3: 91-100. USEPA, ATSDR & CDC Poster Award Honorarium.
Publications
Bishnoi, U. R., G. Kaur, and M.H. Khan. 2007. Calcium, phosphorus, and harvest stages effects on soybean seed production and seed quality.
J. Plant Nutrition 30: 2119-2127.
Brouillette, L.C., M. Gebremedhin, D. M. Rosenthal and L. A. Donovan. 2006. Testing hypothesized evolutionary shifts toward stress tolerance
in hybrid Helianthus species. Western North American Naturalist 66 (4 ): 409–419.
Golson-Garner,K., T.D. Tsegaye, P. Okweye, W. Tadesse and S. Dennis. 2007. Spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals in the
Indian Creek Watershed. J. Environ. Monit. Rest. 3:101-115.
Awards
Congrats! Gagan Kaur Chahal, a recipient of 2008 Gerald O. Mott Meritorious Graduate Student Award in Crop Science Society of
America.

Page 3 Volume 3, Number 1
PLESJOC
(Plant and Soil Science Journal Club)
Graduate students are encouraged to participate and give presentation on their research. Thanks
to the late Dr. Allan Zipf who first organized it.
Please contact the current GSA president, (Seloame Tatu Nyaku) to arrange your presentation.
GSA Presidents’ Message
Graduate Student Association (GSA) of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) experienced
an amazing year of success in the year 2006-’07. It was of great privilege and honor to have had an opportunity to work closely
with students, faculty, and campus administrators to make GSA more appreciated, vigilant, and relevant for students’ academic as well
as social enrichment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all fellow graduate students, GSA officers, advisors, faculty, and
staff for their support to GSA for accomplishing many activities and goals in 2006-’07.
It was the collaborative effort of the Executive Officers and dedicated members who focused their efforts in collecting opinions/suggestions
on issues and concerns of fellow students related to logistics, courses, tuition, assistantship rates, etc. to create a
more relaxed and productive environment that fosters efficiency and organization.
In the past few months the NRES department has begun to experience the repercussions of many campus wide restructuring
efforts. There are many changes that will positively impact the future of research for many graduate students, such as graduate
assistantship and tuition waiver, and GSA has become more vocal in dealing with implementing these changes for graduate students
in NRES, as well as those in other departments at Alabama A&M University. The newly elected GSA executive committee, under
the direction of Mr. Cedric A. Sims, has already begun to work on courses, out-of-state waiver, and assistantship issues. GSA will
become successful through the support of fellow members as well as faculty and staff in NRES.
I sincerely ask all students and faculty for their continuous support and cooperation to the GSA to make the year 2007-’08
more effective and productive, and achieve a successful and socially stimulating future for all graduate students.
~ Reginald Randolph, GSA President (2006-’07)
It is such a prestigious honor to know that the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Graduate Students
here at Alabama A&M University has elected me to be their 2007-2008 President. I would like to thank each and every one of
you who gave me the vote of confidence. I would also like to thank the faculty, staff, and previous Graduate Student Association
(GSA) members who came before us for their diligent contributions in making the GSA what it is today. I would like to extend a
special thanks to “The Mother of GSA”, Dr. Rufina Ward, for her sincere dedication, hard work, and commitment as the GSA advisor.
I take great pleasure in meeting the challenges we face no matter how unachievable they may seem. I believe that with dedicated
members of this great Executive Board and all NRES graduate students, collectively, there is nothing we cannot overcome and accomplish.
Through the years, we have embarked upon a variety of tasks and activities led by previous GSA Presidents. These include
recruitment of new students, improvement of labs and office facilities, and creation of jovial relationships among students, faculty,
and staff. As President of the GSA, I commit myself to these tasks and dedicate my service to the GSA and its members. With your
unyielding support, I truly believe we will accomplish our goals.
Finally, I would like to say that we are only as strong as our weakest link; don’t be that weak link, and remember, keep your
fellowman (fellow graduate student) in mind in whatever you choose to do. Also, don’t forget that I am here to address whatever
concerns or complaints you have. I am not a mind reader, but together, we can all become mind changers. I am looking forward to
serving you as your President while striving towards a productive future in a more friendly and festive environment.
~ Cedric A. Sims, GSA President (2007-’08)

Page 4 Volume 3, Number 1
Congratulations to our Graduates
GSA Financial Report
Doctorates Irenus Tazisong (Soil Science)
Buddhi Gyawali (Forestry)
Bernice Herbert (Forestry)
Zach Felix (Forestry)
Masters Kevin Young (Forestry)
Florence Chang (Forestry)
Fall 2007
Fall 2007
Fall 2007
Spring 2007
Fall 2007
Fall 2007
11/01/07 to 11/31/08
Beginning Balance $359.96
Deposits
Dues $160.00
Reimbursements
Total $160.00
Expenditures
Fritz Ntoko (Soil Science)
Priscilla Mfombep (Soil Science)
Fall 2007
Summer 2007
Undergrad & Grad Comrades
Food & drink for GSA meeting $336.56
Check book $ 21.00
John Carpenter (Forestry)
Spring 2007
Total $357.56
Joel Zack (Forestry)
Summer 2008
Balance (11/31/08) 162.40
Grad Student Statistics
Fall ‘08
Total : 32
Cedric (President)
Tatu (Treasurer)
Guru (Student Rep.)
Masters :15
Doctoral : 17
Terrence (VP)
Brandy (Secretary)
Ashantye
(Parlimentarian)
Lekh (Student Rep.)
Dr. Rufina Ward (GSA
Advisor)
Editorial Request
This bulletin serves to inform graduate students,
faculty and staff in the Department
of NRES about GSA activities. Please submit
your comments and suggestions on ways to
improve the publication for upcoming issues.
Editorial Staff
Gurudev Mayalagu : gmayalagu@yahoo.com
Joel Zak : joel.zak@aamu.edu
GSA Executive Committee 2007-’08
2009 Professional Meetings/Conferences
• ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings “Footprints in the landscape: Sustainability
through Plant and Soil Sciences”, Nov. 1-5, 2009 in the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. https://www.acsmeetings.org/
• ESA (ecology) 94 th Annual Meeting "Ecological knowledge and a global sustainable
society", August 2-7 2009 in Albuquerque, NM. http://www.esa.org/albuquerque/
• ESA (entomology) 57th Annual Meeting, December 13-16, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
http://www.entsoc.org/am/cm/index.htm
• SAF National Convention, “Opportunities in a Forested World” Sept 30– Oct. 4, 2009
in Walt Disney World® Resort, Orlando, FL. http://www.safnet.org/natcon-09/
index.cfm
• ESRI International User Conference (ESRI UC), July 13–17, 2009 in San Diego, CA
http://www.esri.com/events/uc/
Seloame Nyaku: seloame.nyaku@gmail.com
Editorial Staff Advisor
Dr. Rufina Ward: rufina.ward@aamu.edu
Contact Address
GSA Office, Room 215
Carver Complex Thomas Wing
Department of Natural Resources &
Environmental Sciences
P.O. Box 1208
Alabama A & M University,
Normal, AL 35762
Phone: Ext. 8038/4244/4547
E-mail: nresgsa@gmail.com
http://webspace.aamu.edu/gsaNRES