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ATA Turf Times – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

Austin Hagan earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania; He later attended Ohio State University where he received his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees. Dr. Hagan’s areas of expertise are in Etiology and Management of Diseases of Amenity Crops, Peanut, Cotton, and Bioenergy Feedstock Crops. “I was fortunate to work with Dr. Philip Larsen, Turfgrass Research and Teaching faculty at Ohio State, as well as Dr. William Gazaway, Extension Plant Pathologist, at Auburn University. Each of them influenced the direction of my career.

During his work on his Master’s and Ph.D., Dr. Hagan focused on Identification, Epidemiology, and Management of Diseases of Cool-Season Turfgrasses. Opportunities for research projects, along with funding for his graduate education program, were main factors leading him to pursue turfgrass pathology as a specialization. With the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and later, Auburn University, his crop responsibilities included turfgrass, ornamentals, small grain, and peanut pathology. Austin was encouraged and expanded his extension and research activities.

With time, Dr. Hagan’s responsibilities shifted from extension to applied field research. His primary focus was on ornamentals, particularly small flowering trees, along with corn, cotton, peanut, and bioindustrial feedstock crops. “I came to really enjoy conducting field research projects, which allowed me to provide timely information to extension clientele, as well as expand my own professional knowledge base.”

As Dr. Hagan further stated “During my career, I was surprised to see the dramatic changes in research that led to the emergence and application of molecular techniques to enhance disease diagnosis and turfgrass breeding. The objective to identify desirable traits in breeding material, along with the introduction of those traits to produce agronomically superior lines were new methods that I didn’t foresee.”

Fresh challenges come nearly every day from every direction. “Professionals must take advantage of educational along with professional opportunities to prepare them to meet and overcome those challenges, as well as maintain a high level of professional productivity and personal integrity.

Dr. Hagan is married to Susan Hagan, a retired teacher. He enjoys relaxing with Susan at their beach home and saltwater fishing during his spare time. They have one son, Kent Hagan. Kent is an MD who specializes in sports medicine and is a staff physician with Advanced Orthopedics in Fayetteville, AR. Kent is married to Caitlin Hagan, a Program Manager with Jefferson University. They have one son, Wheeler, who is one year old.

Dr. Hagan is a member of the American Peanut Research and Education Society and the American Phytopathological Society. He has received many honors over the course of his career. He is Alumni Professor, Auburn University; received the Past President Award from the American Peanut Research and Education Society in 2002 and 2009; American Peanut Research and Education Society Dow AgroScience Extension Award; a Fellow of the American Peanut Research and Extension Society; the Porter-Henegar Memorial Award, Southern Nursery Association; Auburn University Scholarship Incentive Award (2013, 2015, 2016), Auburn University College of Agriculture Deans Grantsmanship Award (2014, 2015, 2018) Auburn University College of Agriculture Senior Extension Award.

We thank Dr. Hagan for his distinguished service in his career and contributions to our industry!