Department of Plant Sciences alumna, Dr. Maureen Kahiu was recently awarded the 2026 Musser Award of Excellence by the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation. This award recognizes outstanding Ph.D. candidates who, in the final phase of their graduate studies, demonstrated overall excellence throughout their doctoral program in turfgrass research, according to the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation. Dr. Kahiu earned her Ph.D. in Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in December 2025 and now serves as an Assistant Extension Educator of Turfgrass and Weed Ecology at the University of Connecticut. Congratulations Dr. Kahiu!

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By Victoria Cavaliere