UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Wakar Uddin, professor of plant pathology and turfgrass disease specialist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is being remembered as a respected mentor and friend who had a profound impact on plant pathology and the turfgrass industry.
The long-time faculty member died on April 29.
“Dr. Uddin had a tremendous impact on the turf industry, his students, colleagues and the greater world as a statesman,” said Carolee Bull, head of the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology. “He was an exceptionally kind person, and I appreciated his approach to work and life. He also was a respected mentor and provided valuable support to his students when they were in difficult situations.”
Uddin was a Rohingya American, born in Maungdaw, Arakan State Burma, Myanmar. After immigrating to the U.S., he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in integrated pest management from the University of Nevada.
He received his doctorate in plant pathology from the University of Georgia in 1996. He worked in the University of Georgia Plant Disease Clinic and several plant pathology-related jobs before joining Penn State in 1998 as a turfgrass pathologist.
Uddin’s research focused on epidemiology and management of gray leaf spot of perennial ryegrass turf, induced resistance in turfgrass systems through integration of plant defense activators, and integrated management of turfgrass diseases. He also evaluated the efficacy of new fungicide chemistry on several important turfgrass diseases annually.
His findings led to new disease control products and provided practical information on disease management to golf course and sports turf managers, according to Peter Landschoot, professor of turfgrass science.
“Wakar made a significant impact on the industry through his groundbreaking work on epidemiology and control of gray leaf spot disease of perennial ryegrass, which can destroy large swaths of turf in southeastern Pennsylvania during warm, humid summers,” Landschoot said. “He was easy to work with, very open about sharing information, and a great resource for information about turfgrass disease epidemiology and management.”
Uddin also taught plant pathology courses to hundreds of undergraduates and World Campus students and conducted educational seminars for the industry. Cristina Rosa, associate professor of plant virology, described him as a great communicator who was well respected and esteemed by his students.
“I remember seeing one of his seminars and being impressed by his turf pathology expertise and contribution to research,” said Rosa. “The golf course business is a billion-dollar industry in the U.S., and Dr. Uddin gave me a new understanding of what care and expertise are behind the maintenance of a golf course. Seeing the interest generated by his seminar, I often invited him as a guest lecturer in my classes to talk about this impressive topic.”
Rosa also described Uddin as a caring colleague. “As a junior faculty member, I vastly benefited from Dr. Uddin’s experience, generosity and mentorship, and I knew I could always count on his support and availability,” she said. “He showed his generosity as a mentor by being a strong advocate for his graduate students. While he required integrity and commitment, he gave them the freedom to explore their research interests.”
Brian Aynardi, of State College, came to know Uddin during a turfgrass pathology course in 2006. At the time, Uddin encouraged the turfgrass science major to consider graduate school, but Aynardi pursued other opportunities after graduation. However, he had a change of heart in 2010 after speaking with a former classmate who told him that Uddin needed a research technician.
Aynardi worked in Uddin’s lab while pursuing a doctoral degree. Uddin involved him in meetings with industry representatives, which helped Aynardi build professional connections and led to his current position as a northeast research scientist at PBI-Gordon Corp., a national leader in the professional turf and ornamental management industry.
“I would not be where I am in my career and life had Dr. Uddin not supported my career development and given me these privileges,” said Aynardi, who earned his doctorate in 2016. “He also provided me with wide latitude to try different things. But if I failed, he never got frustrated with me. This is critical to learn as a scientist and has served me well in my career; not every hypothesis or experiment is successful. Persistence is the key.”
Aynardi also admired Uddin for his kindness and authenticity. “‘My brother,’ is how he almost always addressed me, especially toward the end of graduate school and up until his passing,” he said. “People often say things like this, but with Wakar, it was authentic. I always felt as though he treated me as a son. So, when he would call me his brother, I know he meant it.”
In addition to his work in plant pathology, Uddin served as director general of the Arakan Rohingya Union, a federation of 61 Rohingya organizations worldwide recognized by the international community as the official voice of the Rohingya people. He was also the founding chairman of The Burmese Rohingya Association of North America and the president and chairman of the board of Trustees of Muslim Aid America.