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Horticulture Faculty
Our faculty are a unique blend of researchers, educators and professionals who are proven experts in their fields.
Amy Boren, Instructor
Horticulture
Amy Boren has been sharing her expertise by teaching horticulture classes at SIU since 1991. Her previous experience included curriculum development in horticulture and conducting a horticulture program at a high school vocational center for 3 ½ years.
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Jose Franco Da Cunha Leme Filho, Assistant Professor
Plant Biology, Horticulture, and Crop, Soil, and Environmental Management
Research:
Joint appointment in the School of Forestry and Horticulture and the School of Biological Sciences. The Cannabis Biology and Cultivation Systems lab focuses on areas of controlled environment agriculture, plant secondary metabolites, nutraceutical/pharmaceutical biology, and growing practices.
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Kaitlyn Lamaster, Instructor and Program Coordinator
Horticulture
Kaitlyn Lamaster is an Illinois native, having earned her two degrees from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Kaitlyn has held many interests in horticulture, working mainly in greenhouse management, small farm systems, season extension, and vegetable research. Before coming back to SIUC as an instructor, she served as a Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension and aided in statewide curriculum development geared towards small farms and agent trainings.
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Karen Midden, Professor Emerita
Horticulture
Karen Midden is an emeritus faculty member in the Horticulture program, as well as a registered landscape architect.
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Bradley Taylor, Associate Professor
Horticulture
Bradley Taylor is a fruit crops specialist whose life-long passion is getting to know, grow, and enjoy perennial fruit crops. Understanding and appreciating apples, peaches, berry crops and grapes, and winemaking are the missions of both work and hobby. His program focuses on the use of pruning, plant training, mineral fertility program, rootstocks and plant growth regulators to efficiently produce wholesome, delectable fruit. He has developed experience navigating the art and science of matching crop species, varieties and rootstocks with the specific field sites, growers and market opportunities. Learning how to manage the cultivation and use of fruit crops is very challenging, but sharing these experiences with students, growers, consumers and other professionals is this career’s greatest reward!View Full Bio
Laura Thomas, Instructor
Horticulture
Laura Thomas began teaching horticulture classes at SIU in 2018. Her previous experience included working at a landscape design build firm where she created design work as well as overseeing the maintenance crew.
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Alan Walters, Professor
Horticulture
Dr. Alan Walters is a Professor of Vegetable Science and Breeding in the School of Forestry and Horticulture at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. He is also a prestigious Fulbright Research Scholar.
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Office: Agriculture Building 178
Phone: 618-453-3446
awalters@siu.edu
Curriculum Vitae