Executive Director, The Peanut Research Foundation

Steve is the executive director of The Peanut Research Foundation where he is responsible for coordination of all foundation-funded research projects, reporting of results and communication with donors and the foundation board of directors. 

During his extensive agriculture career, Steve served as a faculty member at Auburn University and at the University of Georgia, where he attained the rank of professor. While at UGA, he was the extension entomologist for peanuts and stored agricultural products. He has also worked closely with the American Peanut Shellers Association to provide training on the management of pests of farmer’s stock peanuts and served on a national task force that advised the Environmental Protection Agency on the reregistration of aluminum phosphide fumigants. 

Steve retired with 33 years of experience in cooperative extension, including two years as the interim assistant dean for the UGA Tifton campus, one year as interim director of the Peanut and Mycotoxin Innovation Lab at UGA, and six years as assistant dean for Extension where he coordinated all agricultural and natural resources programming in UGA Cooperative Extension. He has received numerous awards from the extension and research communities, incuding the Dow AgroSciences Award for Excellence in Education from the American Peanut Research and Education Society, where he is a fellow.

Steve holds degrees in botany and plant pathology from Auburn University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from Clemson University.