Our team
Co-Director and Professor
Co-Director and Assistant Professor
Research Assistant Professor
Former Director and Professor Emeritus
Assistant Dean Emeritus
Tree Improvement Manager
Operations Manager
Longleaf Tree Improvement Manager
Assistant Director of Administration
Our history
Founded in 1956 by the visionary tree breeder Dr. Bruce Zobel, the program’s charter outlined three activities in the realm of forest genetics: 1) consulting forest companies and agencies, 2) basic research, and 3) guiding graduate students. Decades later, our extension, research, and teaching priorities remain.
Since the 2010s, the program has taken a larger role in the “hands-on” breeding at our centralized orchard facility, hosted by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Our current deliverables includes:
Managing the breeding program to improve the genetic quality of seedlings used for reforestation
Basic research in genetics and genomics
Teaching and advising students
Publishing the Performance Rating System for landowners to choose seedling genetics
Former Directors:
Dr. Bruce Zobel (1956 - 1979)
Dr. Bob Weir (1979 - 2000)
Dr. Tim Mullin (2000 - 2005)
Dr. Steve McKeand (2005 - 2018)
Dr. Kitt Payn (2018 - 2021)
Founding Director, Dr. Bruce Zobel making controlled crosses.