The Institute of Agriculture has named Bob Trigiano the Institute Professor of 2015. The title is given annually to faculty members who demonstrate high achievement in teaching, research, and service. Trigiano is a professor in the university’s entomology and plant pathology department.
Trigiano’s career at UTIA spans more than thirty years. He’s served in numerous leadership roles across the Institute including interim department head for three departments: ornamental horticulture and landscape design, plant sciences, and entomology and plant pathology. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science and has been recognized nationally for his contributions to horticulture.
Trigiano’s area of research focuses on native plants for landscapes. His work has provided an economic boost to the state’s nursery industry, thanks to his role in the development of patents for dogwood varieties that are resistant to harmful diseases. He is also involved in developing tissue culture systems for ornamental plants, with a goal to create species with superior horticulture traits, adapted to climate change.