Dr. Ruying Wang selected for Joe Vargas Professorship in Turfgrass Pathology
MTF | Published on 6/23/2025
Following a thorough search and interview process, Dr. Ruying (Wrennie) Wang has been selected for the Joe Vargas Professorship in Turfgrass Pathology at Michigan State University.
Dr. Wang earned her Bachelor of Science degree with Honor from the MSU-China joint turfgrass education program. As part of the joint degree program, Dr. Wang conducted an internship with Dr. Vargas and the turfgrass pathology team.
Following her undergraduate education, Dr. Wang earned her Master’s and Ph.D. from Rutgers University under the supervision of Dr. Bruce Clarke, Dr. Jim Murphy, and Dr. Faith Belanger. The title of her Master’s thesis was “The effects of sand topdressing on turf quality, surface physical properties, and disease severity of putting green turfs.” Dr. Wang’s Ph.D. dissertation investigated Epichloe festucae-strong creeping red fescue mutualistic and antagonistic interaction.
Following her graduate education, Dr. Wang was appointed as a research associate at Oregon State University where she conducted research, taught on-line turfgrass continuing education courses, and set-up a disease diagnostics lab.
Dr. Wang will begin her appointment at MSU on August 1 with 50% extension, 30% research, 15% teaching, and 5% service appointments.
We are very excited to welcome Dr. Wang to the MSU Turfgrass Science team and the Michigan turfgrass industry!