User:Achodges

Amanda Hodges, Southern Plant Diagnostic Network

Education

B.S., Biology, University of Georgia, 1997

Ph.D., Entomology, University of Georgia, 2002

Employment

Assistant Extension Scientist & Southern Plant Diagnostic Network Associate Director, University of Florida/IFAS, Entomology & Nematology Department, 2003-present

Responsibilities

Amanda Hodges serves as the Co-Associate Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) Director and assists in administration of the SPDN regional center, housed at the University of Florida. The SPDN is one of five regions of the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN)and was formed in June of 2002 in order to promote the early detection of exotic pests, including plant pathogens, arthropods, nematodes, and weeds. The mission of the NPDN is accomplished primarily through 1) enhanced diagnostics and professional development opportunities for diagnosticians 2) training and education for First Detectors 3) information technology and 4) event detection response exercise scenarios. The NPDN is funded by the USDA Cooperative State, Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). Amanda assists in overall regional and national budget planning, regional center communications as well as public relations issues. Additionally, she provides national leadership in training and education of First Detectors (i.e. county extension agents, crop consultants, Master Gardeners, and others likely to first encounter a new pest in the field) and further incorporation of entomology in the NPDN. Educational efforts have been directed through primarily Extension channels to First Detector audiences as well as state level identifiers/diagnosticians.