Posted: September 28, 2018

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology recently welcomed Extension Educator, Maria Gorgo-Gourovitch.

Maria Gorgo-Gourovitch

Maria Gorgo-Gourovitch

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology recently welcomed Extension Educator, Maria Gorgo-Gourovitch. In her role as affiliate instructor, Gorgo-Gourovitch plans to work closely with university-based research faculty, graduate students and the horticulture industry in conducting applied research that is relevant to industry needs, as well as mentoring students who are interested in extension work and/or helping in the launch of new programming for Hispanic farm owners and workers in Pennsylvania.

Gorgo-Gourovitch is a native Spanish speaker, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She received her Bachelor of Science (Agriculture/Agronomy) and Master of Science (Animal Production) from Pontifical Argentine Catholic University. In her current position as horticulture extension educator, she is working with vegetable, mushroom and fruit growers, as well as green industry stakeholders. Gorgo-Gourovitch conducts educational programs, identifies strategic educational objectives, develops educational events and materials, and evaluates the program's impacts. Her primary program emphasis centers on farm food safety, integrated pest management and water quality issues for various agricultural industries in Pennsylvania. Previous positions of Gorgo-Gourovitch's include soil conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Penn State Extension where she served as outreach coordinator, educator and trainer for the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management (PA IPM) program, and Farm Safety and Food Safety programs.