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Plant Pathology

Department of Plant Pathology

CFAES

Boehm Reception

Interim Chair Larry Madden (above left) and Bobby Moser, Vice President of Agricultural Administration and Dean, congratulate Mike Boehm on his new position as Vice Provost for Academic Planning.  Boehm was honored at a surprise reception on May 26, 2010.


boehm familyMike's family, left to right (left photo), wife Connie and children Kirby and Carly, were part of the celebration.  Right photo: Carly and Kirby with Joe Rimelspach.


Sarah Ellis Williams presented Mike with a collage of department photos (left photo), a gift from the department.  The photos were compiled from the department's college of photos over the years. > View collage (3.9 mb jpg file)

Right photo: Joe Rimeplspach shared thoughtful sentiments on behalf of the turfgrass pathology group.


Left: a great turnout for the reception which was videolinked to the department in Wooster (back screen).


cakeThe cake decorations signify Mike's move to Bricker Hall, home of the university's central administration


Above left, Ira Deep, our department's first chair, joined in the festivities.  Right photo, left to right, Andika Gunadi, Terry Graham, Kara Riggs and Amanda Hayes (photo by Madge Graham)

About Mike Boehm

I am a native of Ohio. I grew up in Sheffield Lake in Lorain County and graduated from Brookside High School. I attended Heidelberg College where I majored in Biology. Though both high school and college, I had the good fortune of having awesome teachers - genuine individuals that really cared about their students and whose prime motivation was to help young people learn both in and outside of the classroom. Looking back, there is little doubt in my mind that these individuals had a huge impact in molding my life and ultimately my career. While at Heidelberg, I developed a love of both botany and microbiology. When the time came to apply to graduate school, plant pathology seemed like a natural choice. I completed both my M.S. and Ph.D. in the Department of Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University under the direction of Dr. Harry Hoitink and in the area of biological control of Pythium root rot of poinsettia.  Graduate school was an awesome time in my life. I learned a lot, made many lasting friendships and got married. Upon completion of my Ph.D., I joined Dr. Joyce Loper's lab in the USDA ARS's Horticultural Crops Research Unit located on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. Our time spent in Corvallis was also extremely rewarding on all fronts. While in Joyce's lab, I also worked on biocontrol but this time on the role siderophore-mediated iron competition played in suppression of soft rot of potato. While in Corvallis, I had the opportunity to serve as a sabbatical replacement in Oregon Stat's Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and taught their introductory plant pathology course. From Corvallis, I accepted an Assistant Professor post in the Department of Biology at Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL where I advised students and taught a wide variety of courses ranging from biology for non-majors to microbiology and cell biology. About four months into this job, I received word that a faculty position in turfgrass pathology at OSU was open. I applied and the rest was history. I never imagined that I'd be on the faculty in the very department from which I received my graduate degrees, but am honored to have this opportunity. My wife and I live in Worthington and have been blessed with two fantastic kids - Kirby and Karly. We enjoy camping, biking, canoeing and most other outdoor activities. Most of all we enjoy just doing things as a family. On a final note, I am a member of the U.S. Naval Reserves where I serve as a biowarfare (BW) threat agent testing specialist. I was recalled to active duty following the intentional release of anthrax in the Hart Senate Office building and spent 14 months on active duty.