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Distinguished Professional Awards
Anastassios Haniotis
Dr. Haniotis received a B.A. from Athens Graduate School of Economics and Business in Athens, Greece in 1980. He worked as a research associate at the Institute of Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE), Athens, Greece while taking classes. He then worked as a graduate research assistant in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Georgia while pursuing his graduate degrees. He received an M.S. in 1984 and a Ph.D. in 1987 in Agricultural Economics both from the University of Georgia. He was selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Ph.D. Paper Award and as the Outstanding Ph.D. Student in 1987. He also worked as a temporary instructor in the department until 1988 when he moved to London to accept a position as a visiting fellow for the Centre for European Agricultural Studies, Wye College, University of London. In 1989, after completing his work in London, Dr. Haniotis joined the office of the European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture, as Administrator in the Market Unit of Processed Fruit and Vegetables. His main task was the preparation of a report on the functioning of the market regime for dried grapes, with reform proposals. The reform of the sector was agreed to by July 1990 and included the first implementation of an aid per area differentiated by yield characteristics in the history of the CAP. He was then promoted within that organization to Administrator in the Unit of Quantitative Analysis and Forecasts with primary responsibilities for the development of medium-term forecasts for European Union (EU) agriculture and development and maintenance of partial equilibrium models covering various sectors of EU Agriculture, including meat demand, beef supply, arable crops, cereal food and feed demand. Results of his model provided the input to the OECD annual Outlook for Agricultural Commodities. In addition, model results were used to evaluate the compatibility of the 1992 CAP - Reform with respect to the EU's World Trade Organization (WTO ) commitments, to evaluate alternative policy scenarios for reform proposals, and to provide benchmarks for comparing results of external models of EU Agriculture. His duties also included his acting as a representative of the European Commission in the informal World Outlook Group, coordinated by the OECD Secretariat, which included participants from the USDA, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, ABARE, the Japanese MAFF, and representatives from the FAO, FAPRI and the University of Bonn. The purpose of the World Outlook Group, which meets annually, is to informally exchange views and information that would shed light on assumptions, modeling techniques and results of analyses of the world outlook in agricultural markets. Part of this activity resulted in 1995 in a report on the World Outlook in cereal markets which identified as the main cause of the price hike of the mid nineties, supply rather than demand factors. In 1996, Dr. Haniotis accepted a position as Agricultural Counselor, European Commission Delegation to the U.S. His responsibilities covered three main areas – liaison with the U.S. administration on issues related to agricultural trade, representation of the EU's position on agricultural and food safety issues, and monitoring and analysis of EU agricultural developments. The responsibilities in trade involved extensive contacts with USDA and USTR on trade and policy issues as wide as the EU – U.S. veterinary or wine negotiations, regulatory development in agricultural applications of biotechnology, EU – U.S. trade disputes on bananas, beef hormones, or wheat gluten, and other bilateral agricultural trade issues. The responsibilities in food safety involved contacts with most U.S. commodity and agribusiness groups in Washington, D.C., and over 70 speaking engagements with a wide range of audiences. The responsibilities in agricultural development covered monitoring and analysis of agricultural policies and agricultural market issues of U.S. agriculture, either in the form of reports to the European Commission or in the form of a more regular (quarterly) AG-monitor, a publication distributed within the European Commission and member-states. Dr. Haniotis was then offered a position as a Member of the Cabinet of Dr. Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries. In that role, he served as an advisor to the Commissioner with areas of responsibilities for Common Market Organizations (commodity programs) of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU's budget, the Agricultural Council, and relationships with farm and agribusiness organizations. The main responsibility during this period was related to the preparatory work of the mid-term review of the CAP (presented in June 2002) which resulted in legislative proposals and the subsequent CAP reform of June 2003. These responsibilities included the coordination of the relationship between the Cabinet and relative services of the Directorate General of Agriculture from the early stages of the preparation of options to the final stage of the reform proposals and their adoption. In addition to the internal preparatory work, responsibilities covered the public explanation of the Commission proposals to member-states, farm organizations or the wider public and included over 50 speaking engagements with a wide range of audiences. After the greater part of the latest CAP reform was completed, Dr. Haniotis was promoted to Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Dr. Franz Fischler, European Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries. In addition to his responsibilities involving international relations of agriculture and EU enlargement, an important part of Dr. Haniotis' work involved accompanying the Commissioner to major international meetings, such as the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, the World Food Summit, and major trips in numerous countries, including the United States and Latin America. In the words of the European Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Dr. Franz Fischler, "To sum up, Tassos is a striking combination of intellectual, organizational and human skills, with first class judgment, a positive, optimistic attitude and cooperative spirit, and a realistic sense of self-worth." Gary W. Black
Gary works with Georgia's congressional delegation providing leadership on issues such as migrant labor, pesticide use for crop protection, fertilizer use, and the farm bill. He has facilitated and helped direct numerous grass-roots agribusiness educational tours for Georgia congressional and state leadership, including tours relating to poultry markets and food safety, animal feeding operations, agricultural irrigation, various conservation programs, agribusiness development, and the continued need for agricultural research. In addition, he has frequently provided testimony on agricultural issues to governmental agencies, including the Georgia Board of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. He provides regular legislative and regulatory updates for several agricultural industry organizations, including the Georgia Feed & Grain Association, Georgia Plant Food Educational Society, Georgia Crop Production Alliance, Metro Atlanta Landscape and Truf Association, and the Georgia Trufgrass Association. In 1992, Gary worked with the leadership of the Georgia Agribusiness Council to develop a self-insured workers compensation insurance program for agribusiness. The program, AgriTrust of Georgia, continues to be a successful cost-savings program for agribusiness and has grown to cover more that 290 businesses. Gary continues to work closely with this program and serves as the Fund Pool Manager with the Board of Trustees. In 1996, Gary led a group of agricultural commodity organizations and trade associations to produce an exhibit showcasing Georgia agriculture at the Olympic games. In 2002, Gary was appointed by the leadership of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture to serve on the Federal Commission on Application of Payment Limitations. He is a leader with FOODPAC, a research consortium for Georgia's food processing industry, and through this organization has secured millions of dollars in state funds for cost-share business development plans, creating new jobs and innovative businesses impacting Georgia's agricultural development. Gary was appointed to the Governor's Rural Development Council in 2003 and is currently serving as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee working to explore programs that enhance Georgia's rural economy and has worked with Georgia members of Congress to help secure federal monies for agricultural research programs. He served on the Technical Advisory Committee and Planning Framework Working Group in creating a process to develop a state water management plan. Gary received a degree in Agricultural Education from UGA in 1980. In an effort to expand educational experiences for the College of Agricultural and Environment Sciences students, Gary helped lead the development and funding of a student scholar internship program which allows students to work with members of Congress during summer months. The program has now grown to include positions for six student interns. In addition to his business activities, Gary is active in the community. He is a member of Maysville Baptist Church and is active in the music ministries, serves as an adult Sunday School teacher, on the Building Committee, and the Capital Campaign Steering Committee. He serves on the board of directors of a bank and is actively involved with county and state livestock activities, including the Jackson County Cattlemen's Association. Gary is married to Lydia Black and they have two children, Ward and Caroline. Back to TopMarie Truesdell
Marie received a B.S. in Mathematics and B.A. in Economics from Trinity University in 1992, an M.E. from North Carolina State University in 1994, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia in 1999. During her college career, Marie always asked for extra teaching assignments to gain the experience necessary to be a great teacher and leader. She also took on extra projects to gain additional experience in research as a well as professional communication. She asked advice from those she respected and attempted to heed that advice, realizing that those with more experience have much to offer those starting out. Marie credits these actions with aiding in her professional success. Marie has this advice for current students in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, "I would suggest students become much more involved in the college and in their departments. Ask your advisors for advice and look to gain many different experiences. They not only teach you valuable skills, but they help you truly discern your goals." In her leisure time, Marie volunteers at the humane society and is a member of an organization that provides volunteers for most events in Indianapolis. She enjoys snow skiing, reading and vacationing overseas. |
Anastassios
(Tassos) Haniotis was awarded the J. W. Fanning Distinguished Professional
Award for outstanding accomplishments in his field. Dr. Haniotis was
recently appointed the Head of Unit, Agricultural Trade Policy Analysis,
Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European
Commission. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Deputy Head
of the Cabinet of Dr. Franz Fischler, European Union Commissioner for
Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries. In that position, he dealt
with international affairs, including external relations, trade and
development. He had responsibilities in the area of international relations
of agriculture, with priorities in the context of the World Trade Organization
(WTO) negotiations and the European Union–Mercosur negotiations.
He was also involved with follow-up of the last stages of European Union
enlargement and all other international issues related to agriculture.
Dr. Haniotis has had a remarkable career, moving up the ladder from
the position of analyst into the realm of high policy making. Maintaining
a strong interest in analytical economics, he has been able to inject
strong economic thinking into actual policy making. Dr. Haniotis' role
in the design of Commissioner Fischler's proposal for the latest round
of reforms resulted in the European Union's implementing the most sweeping
reform in the history of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Gary
Black has served for fifteen years as the president of the Georgia Agribusiness
Council, Inc., a statewide agricultural trade association formed in
1966. The council is comprised of over 600 businesses, including family
farming operations, retail farm suppliers, grain elevators, and wholesale
producer distributors. Much of Gary's work focuses on agricultural issues
in the legislative and regulatory arenas, but his everyday work encompasses
a wide range of duties. His duties involve finding solutions to issues
impacting agriculture, building networks and relationships with agriculture
and beyond, and building communication and outreach between agribusiness
and the various components critical to operating an effective agribusiness
or farming operation.
Marie
Truesdell was awarded the 2004 J. W. Fanning Distinguished Young Professional
Award for outstanding accomplishments. As Chair of the Department of
Business at Marian College in Indianapolis, Indiana, Marie teaches two
economics courses per semester, recruits economics majors, and performs
all the duties of the department chair. The department encompasses accounting,
finance, economics, management, marketing, management information systems
and has eight full-time faculty and ten adjunct faculty. Marie was hired
by Marian College to start an economics program. She was able to create
the program, including the courses offered and recruit a viable number
of students in three semesters. In addition, she was promoted to department
head after only three years at the college. She led a team of faculty
to bring a grant of $750,000 from the Lilly foundation to start a new
program in entrepreneurship.
John
McKissick received the Walter B. Hill Award for Distinguished Achievement
in Public Service and Outreach. The award was presented at the Annual
Public Service and Outreach Conference on January 27. He is currently
a full professor and extension economist with over 27 years of service
at UGA. He also serves as director of the Center for Agribusiness
and Economic Development where he focuses on the development and implementation
of economics and marketing programs for Georgia producers and agribusiness.
Xiaohui
"Sarah" Deng, a Ph.D. student majoring in agricultural economics,
has been elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities
and Colleges. Originally from Qingdao, China, she has been at the Department
of Agricultural and Applied Economics three years. Sarah received a
B.A. in International Trade in 1998 and an M.S. in Enterprise Management
in 2001, both from Ocean University of China. In 1997, she received
the Tian Tai Scholarship, and in 2001, she received the Excellent Master
Thesis Prize from Ocean University of China. Sarah has served as president
of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Graduate Student Association
(AEC GSA) and Co-Chair of Social Activity for the Chinese Student Union
(CSU).