Dr. Marla McIntoshProfessorEmail: mmcintos@umd.edu |
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Education and Experience:
- B.S. in Forestry (with Honors): Univ. of Illinois, 1974
- M.S. in Forestry: Univ. of Illinois, 1976
- Ph.D. in Agronomy (Plant Breeding): Univ. of Illinois, 1978
- Institute for Management and Leadership:
Harvard School of Graduate Education, 2000
Area of Specialization:
Dr. McIntosh's current research interests include various aspects of sustainable ecosystems, germplasm conservation, and women in sciences. Her research interests are best described by her graduate students (seen on their own web pages), who represent the strengths of her research program. She has taught courses ranging from "Experimental Design of Field Crop Research" to "Science and Society". Most recently, she is teaching courses for Honors students to educate non-majors about genetic engineering.
Although raised in a Chicago suburb, Dr. McIntosh has always had a strong interest in nature and sustainability. She earned her B.S. in Forestry (1974) and M.S. in Forest Ecology (1976) at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana which is unique for a women in the 70's. Subsequently, she pursued her interest in plant breeding and received her Ph.D. in Agronomy/ Plant Breeding (1978) under the caring and wise guidance of Dr. Darrell Miller and with the support of her husband Kevin McIntosh.
Dr. McIntosh became an Assistant Professor of Agronomy at the University of Maryland in 1979 where her main responsibilities involved teaching graduate level courses, including experimental design and advanced plant breeding. In 1984, she was promoted to Associate Professor the same month that she gave birth to her daughter Jessica. Two years later, she finished applying sludge treatments before taking leave to spend time with her daughter and newborn son Timothy.
Over the past 22 years, in response to changing student educational needs, Dr. McIntosh has developed thirteen courses ranging from "Introduction to Agriculture and Natural Resources" to "Science in Society". For example, she recently created a new course for the University Honors Program entitled: "Designer Genes: At What Price?" This course addresses the critical need to educate students about the risks and rewards of genetic engineering from a scientific and historical perspective.
Dr. McIntosh's research has followed a path similar to her teaching and has been broad and eclectic. She favors using an ecosystem approach to conduct experiments that will impact resource management and policy. Her research is often collaborative and she contributes her expertise regarding the design, analysis and interpretation of experiments. Her favorite aspect of research involves mentoring and advising student research where she can play a role in guiding them to become skilled scientist and professionals. Her ability to integrate teaching and research led to her being named a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at the University of Maryland in 1992.
In 1992, Dr. McIntosh was asked to serve as the Acting Associate Dean for Academic Programs for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She reluctantly left her faculty position (although she continued to teach) to become an administrator because she wanted to make a contribution to the College leadership. In 1995, after a national search, she was appointed as the Associate Dean and became known as an ardent advocate of students and educational programs. With so few women agronomists in positions of administrative leadership, she endeavored to serve as a positive role model to inspire younger women to pursue careers in agriculture and natural resources.
From 1991 through 1996, she spearheaded a university effort to develop an undergraduate program in Environmental Sciences and Policy. Through her persistence and determination to offer undergraduate students a truly multidisciplinary program and the support of dedicated faculty and administrators, the University of Maryland now has an innovative and popular program administered by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources with four Colleges contributing faculty advisors and instructors for the program. Also, as Associate Dean, she contributed to the development of a new Certificate in International Agriculture and Natural Resources to provide students with a global perspective of agriculture and natural resources. In 2000, Dr. McIntosh resigned as Associate Dean and returned to her faculty position and has resumed full-time teaching and research.
Dr. McIntosh has been an active member of the Agronomy Society for over 20 years and has served on numerous ASA committees. She was also an Associate Editor for Crop Science from 1991-1996 and is a Fellow of both the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. In 2001, she served as the Chair of the Women in Agronomy Committee that organized a panel on "Balancing Personal and Professional Lives." Her dedication to teaching and learning has resulted in her being selected as a Fellow of the Academy in Teaching Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University. This Academy has allowed her to pursue her interests with other scholars on a project to promote shared learning.
Courses:
- PLSC171: Introduction to urban ecosystems See class project here: UMD Arboretum Tree Walk
- NRSC 171- Introduction to Urban Forestry
- AGNR 499A- Experimenting in Multimedia Education
- AGNR 499C- Sustainable Tropical Ecosystems
- HONR 278E- Our Environment: What Does Science Have to do with It?
- HONR 328Q- Truth and Diversity: Seeking the Truth in Different Contexts
- HONR 208L- Designer Genes: At What Price?
Current Graduate Students:
- Comming soon...
Previous Graduate Students
Selected Publications:
- E. P. Brewer, J. A. Saunders, J. Scott Angle, R. L. Chaney, M. S. McIntosh. 1999. Somatic hybridization between the zinc accumulator Thlaspi caerulescens and Brassica napus. Theoretical Applied Genetics 99:761-771
- Diwan, N., M.S. McIntosh, G.R. Bauchan. 1995. Methods of developing a core collection of annual medicago species. Theoretical Applied Genetics 90: 755-759.
- McIntosh, M.S. A course relating agronomy and science to society. 1993. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 22:49-52.
- Perry, M.C. and M.S. McIntosh and (A.K. Stoner). 1991. Geographical patterns of variation in the USDA soybean germplasm collection. I. Morphological traits II. Allozyme frequencies. Crop Science 31: 1350-1355; 1356-1360.
- Aschmann, S.G., M.S. McIntosh, J.S. Angle, R.L. Hill and R.R. Weil. 1990. Nitrogen status of forest floor, soils and vegetation following municipal wastewater sludge application. Journal of Environmental Quality 19: 687-694.
- McIntosh, M.S. 1990. Statistical techniques for field testing of genetically engineered microorganisms. In M. Levin and H. Strauss (eds.) Risk assessment in genetic engineering: environmental release of organisms. McGraw-Hill, New York. pp. 219-238.
- McIntosh, M.S. 1983. Analysis of combined experiments. Agronomy Journal 75: 153-155.
- McIntosh, M.S. and I.E. Strand. 1983. Job satisfaction as related to characteristics of agronomy and agriculture alumni. Journal of Agronomic Education 12: 49-52.
- McIntosh, M.S., J.E. Foss, D.C. Wolf, K.R. Brandt, and R. Darmody. 1983. Effect of composted municipal sludge on growth and elemental composition of white pine and hybrid poplar. Journal of Environmental Quality 13: 60-62.
Current Competitively Awarded Grants
- Women in Agriculture: Diversity Initiative Award.
Funding Source: Faculty Support Award (FSA), University of Maryland
Investigator: M.S. McIntosh. 2002-2003. - American Ginseng as an Alternative Crop in Maryland: Developing a Niche Market.
Funding Source: Maryland Department of Agriculture
Investigators: M.S. McIntosh, R. Trumble. 2002-2004: $80,000. - Cultural Practices Affecting the Profitable Production of Ginseng in Different
Physiographic Regions of Maryland Forests.
Funding Source: Maryland Center for Agroecology
Investigators: M.S. McIntosh, J. Kays, D. Johnson. 2002-2004: $70,000. - Sustainable Maryland Forestry Using Medicinal Plants.
Funding Source: McIntire-Stennis Federal Grant 2001-2004.
Investigator: M.S. McIntosh
Awards
- N.E. American Society of Agronomy "Outstanding Teaching" Award: 1984
- Agriculture Alumni "Teaching Excellence Award": 1985
- Distinguished Scholar-Teacher: University of Maryland: 1993
- Northeast Region's Epsilon Sigma Phi, Regional Distinguished Team Award: 1999
- Outstanding Teacher Award, Honors Program University of Maryland: 2000
- Fellow, American Society of Agronomy
- Fellow, Crop Science Society
- Fellow, Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence, University of Maryland
