Seminars

The CSS GSA hosts two seminars per academic year: the Wernsman Seminar and the Willie Woltz Seminar.

The Wernsman Seminar celebrates advancements in crop science and related fields through honoring the achievements of an exceptional researcher. The seminar is funded by Dr. Earl Wernsman and has previously hosted prestigious researchers in crop science related fields including weed science, genetics, global agricultural production, plant breading, and agroecology.

Previous Wernsman Seminar Speakers include the following:

2025: Dr. Mauricio Bellon, Arizona State University

2024: Dr. Steven B Mirsky, USDA-ARS

2023: Dr. Greg Kruger, Rosen’s

2022: Dr. Maria G Salas Fernandez, Iowa State University

2021: Dr. Wes Jackson, The Land Institute

2020: Dr. Mary Beth Kirkham, Kansas State University

The Willie Woltz Seminar series is hosted in honor of former professor Dr. Willie Woltz. His family left an endowment for graduate students to bring in an exceptional and world-renowned scientist in soil science.

Recent Willie Woltz Seminar Speakers include the following:

2025: Dr. Alexandra Kravchenko, Michigan State University

2024: Dr. Anna Paltseva, University of Louisiana-Lafayette

2023: Dr. Ole Wendroth, University of Kentucky

2022: Dr. Rattan Lal, Ohio State University

2021: Dr. Serita Frey, University of New Hampshire

2020: Dr. C. Lee Burras, Iowa State University