معرفی
Luisa Santamaria is a Nursery Pathology Specialist and Bilingual Educator at Oregon State University's Extension Service, based at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center. She holds a position in the Department of Horticulture and focuses on developing bilingual educational programs for the Oregon nursery industry, with expertise in plant disease management and extension outreach.
Education: Began in biology in Ecuador, pursued graduate studies in agricultural microbiology in the U.S., focusing on plant pathology and nursery crop diseases.
Research Interests: Soil-borne pathogens (Phytophthora, Pythium, Verticillium), integrated pest management, bilingual training for agricultural workers, and food safety protocols. Her work emphasizes practical solutions for nursery and Christmas tree industries, including disease diagnostics and culturally appropriate education for Spanish-speaking workers.
Key Programs: Includes workshops on plant pathology diagnostics, food safety training, and surveys assessing Hispanic worker training needs. She has developed bilingual publications and videos on topics like boxwood blight, azalea lace bug management, and good agricultural practices.
Awards: Recognized for exceptional service, diversity initiatives, and extension program excellence, including the 2024 Global Relations Committee Award and multiple accolades from Epsilon Sigma Phi.
Grants/Labs: Leads the Healthy Plants & Bilingual Education Program, collaborating with high school and community college students on research projects related to plant pathology and cyanobacteria characterization. Her work is supported through OSU Extension and partnerships with agricultural stakeholders.
