Advisor Profile: Dr. Art Trese

By Ashley Henry | PACE Publications Assistant

Professor of Environmental and Plant Biology, Art Trese’s passion for plants began early. The third oldest of 17 children, he started growing a garden, at the age of 10, to have extra food for his family.  He expanded his hobby and started canning food and baking bread; he also became interested in food production, preservation, and organic gardening.

Trese originally went to college to become a doctor, but missed the GPA requirement for admission by only a few points.  While wondering what to do with a degree in biology, Trese had someone suggest that he go to graduate school for plant pathology.  He obtained a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from the University of Missouri.

Trese came to OU as an assistant professor in 1990, and in his 16 years at Ohio he has enjoyed his work as a researcher and instructor.  His general education courses, PBIO 100, World of Plants, and PBIO 103, Plants and People, are often overenrolled due to Trese’s reputation for excellent teaching.

His current research interests include food security, organic agriculture, genetic engineering and energy.  Trese said he would love to teach a class on alternative energy and sustainable energy.  The topics of liquid hydrogen energy, bio diesel and the energy crisis also rank as courses he would like to see created at OU. 

Trese is involved with the Curriculum Committee and Recruitment Committee in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology.  He is also the Undergraduate Advising Committee Coordinator for the department.  Trese advises undecided students in University College, served as Chair of the University Academic Advising Council, and is a member of the First-Year Enhancement Task Force.  Trese is a member of the West State Street Research Site Committee, which maintains the research facility on West State Street.

Trese was awarded the University Professor award in 2002, which is voted on by students, and he received the Presidential Teacher Award in 2004, which is voted on by a faculty committee. Trese said he fell in love with teaching because “if you do a good job everyday you can feel good about it.”  He also said that teaching is rewarded more directly. 

When asked what advice he gives his advisees, Trese states, “Don’t expect the world to look like today 20 years from now.”  He tells students to get involved outside of class.  He said that in the future, employers could be looking at job applications from equally qualified applicants, but if one student has activities or clubs that could be the deciding factor in getting hired.” “Getting involved makes you unique,” Trese said.

In his free time, it’s no surprise that Professor Trese enjoys gardening.  He keeps a garden on West State Street.  He said he is obsessed with organic gardening and likes to “dig in the dirt”.