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Wayne Curtis

Wayne Curtis is an environmental specialist with Kip Prahl Associates in Atlanta. He works as an environmental consultant to approximately 75 clients in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, assisting clients in their compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations. Since his employment with Kip Prahl Associates, the company’s client base in Georgia has grown by 387%.

Wayne graduated with a B.S. in 2000 and an M.S. in 2003 in agricultural economics, both from the University of Georgia where he was an honors student. As a student, he developed a personal growth plan, determined his ideal career type, and strived to increase his education and experience accordingly. While attending college, he worked part-time as an environmental specialist and took many supplemental training/certification courses. Wayne offers this advice to students in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, “Focus on adding quality experience and education to your resume. Often, certification courses can be completed in less than a day. They are a great supplement to your college education, and will add a quick bullet to your resume. Most importantly, certifications and some type of field experience will help you stand out in a crowd and downplay the ‘wet behind the ears’ attitude that is the typical stereotype for recent grads.”

In his leisure time, Wayne likes to exercise at least three times a week. He enjoys seasonal outdoor activities. In the fall and winter, he goes hunting and in the spring and summer, he enjoys fishing. He also competes in regional outdoor volleyball tournaments.

Matthew L. Waters

Matthew L. Waters is an Attorney at Law in Wrightsville, Georgia, a Municipal Court Judge, and serves on the General Council of G & C Fertilizer, Inc. in Pembroke, Georgia. He was elected by his peers and colleagues from Georgia’s Middle Circuit to serve on the Board of Governors of the State Bar Association of Georgia. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia.

Matthew received his B.S.A. in agricultural economics from the University of Georgia in 1976 and his J.D. from John Marshall School of Law in 1989. While attending UGA, Matthew was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Alpha Zeta, the Agricultural Economic Club, and the Poultry Science Club. During his college years, he “learned the virtue of persistence and built invaluable, lifelong relationships with extraordinary individuals in the department like Dr. Wen Williams.” His advise to current students in the department is the advice he accepted from a quote by Dr. George Washington Carver, “Do the best you can with what you have, but do it now.”

Matthew expresses this sentiment concerning his accomplishments: “The sum of all positive events in my life pale in comparison to my single greatest accomplishment – being ‘Daddy’ to two wonderful, yet uniquely different sons. My eldest son, Davis, is a graduate student in the Department and works for Dr. John McKissick in the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development. My youngest son, Steve, is autistic. He is a model of perseverance and embodies a full zest for life. And, as so many people have come to know, Steve never meets a stranger.”

Matthew benefits greatly from early morning exercise and enjoys reading when he has idle time. He also enjoys participating in the Rotary Club and dining out with his wife of more than 30 years, Janice.

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Featured Faculty

Stanley Fletcher is CAST President

Stanley M. Fletcher, Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, is president of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). A member of CAST since 1988, Dr. Fletcher has also served as chair of the group’s plant and soils workgroup and chair of the National Concerns Committee. CAST is a consortium of scientific societies that provides information about agricultural science and technology, including task force reports on topics of particular interest and concern. Formed in 1972, CAST now includes 36 scientific societies representing all of the major agricultural related scientific societies of the United States. Dr. Fletcher is the fourth CAES faculty member to serve as the group’s president. No other university has had as many faculty members serve in this position.

Dr. Fletcher was presented the Georgia Peanut Distinguished Service Award for his lifelong work by the Georgia Peanut Commission at the 2005 Georgia Peanut Farm Show in January. He is the first agricultural economist to receive this recognition – the oldest and highest award offered by the commission on an annual basis.

The following statement was engraved on the plaque presented to Dr. Fletcher:

“The leadership and service you have provided on behalf of Georgia and US farmers has laid the economic and policy analysis foundation upon which our peanut industry rests. The impact you have had on our industry is both profound and invaluable. In fact, the true impact of your efforts may never be fully appreciated or appropriately recognized.”

Fred C. White, Head of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Southern Agricultural Economics Association at a ceremony in Little Rock, Arkansas in February 2005. The award recognized Dr. White’s 33 years of outstanding contributions to research, teaching and administration in agricultural economics at the University of Georgia.

Dr. White’s primary focus in research has been on analysis of public policies affecting agriculture. He has prepared numerous materials to help formulate recommendations for agricultural policies, to analyze policy alternatives for policymakers and to assist business decision makers respond to changing policies. He has been a prolific author with over 100 journal articles and numerous other publications.

Dr. White has been an outstanding teacher in agricultural economics, winning numerous teaching awards at the University of Georgia. He also was recognized by the American Agricultural Economics Association with its highest national award for outstanding teaching.

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