For Immediate Release

Story Contact:

Jeff Brasher (Brā'zure): (307) 760-3909

Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor

Phone: (307) 766-6342

E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu

Archived News Site www.uwyo.edu/agadmin/news/news.htm

Date: July 5, 2006

Plant specialist joins UW College of Agriculture

            A scientist with biological education and biotechnology expertise has joined the University of Wyoming’s College of Agriculture.

            Jeff Brasher will work as a research scientist in the Department of Plant Sciences and will also develop materials for the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES).

.           “Jeff brings an incredible expertise in plant taxonomy to our department,” said Stephen Enloe, assistant professor in the department and UW CES weed specialist. “I’m very pleased to bring him on board.”

            Brasher will receive his doctorate in biological education in August from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). He received his bachelor’s degree in botany/biotechnology and his master’s degree in botany with a specialty in plant taxonomy from Brigham Young University.

            As principal author of the Southern Rocky Mountain Interactive Flora at UNC, the UW job focus of plant taxonomy helped draw him to the position. “This seems like a good place and a good fit. I’m pleased to be aboard,” he said.

            Brasher’s interest in plants started early. Gardening was part of family life, and he would sometimes accompany his father, who worked for the U.S. Forest Service, and ask about various plants.

            “I was always impressed with my dad’s knowledge of plants,” he said.

            Involvement in Boy Scouts and an emphasis on nature and living things further fueled his curiosity, but his focus narrowed as an undergraduate student to plant identification.

            “Having knowledge of plants opened a whole world I wasn’t aware of,” said Brasher.