A native of Collin, Church will replace Dr. Landry Lockett, who transferred to a position at Texas A&M University in College Station, said Tony Douglas, District AgriLife Extension Administrator, who is based at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Service Center in Dallas.

"Church has enjoyed a very productive career since obtaining his doctorate in plant pathology," Douglas said. "In Collin County, he will work with local residents, Extension committees and community organizations in planning and conducting Extension programs. He will also provide leadership to the Collin County Master Gardener Association."

Church served as an assistant research scientist for Texas AgriLife Research (formerly the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station) at Chillicothe and Vernon for two years before accepting the position in Collin. He also worked for three years as a research plant pathologist at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Ft. Pierce, Fla. In 2000, he received the Bailey Research Award from the American Peanut Research and Education Society.

He earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1997 from Stephen F. Austin State University. Church was awarded his doctorate from Texas A&M University in 2002.

Texas Cooperative Extension changed its name to Texas AgriLife Extension Service on Jan. 1, 2008. An agency of the Texas A&M University System, local Extension programs provide practical information and educational outreach in the four areas of agriculture and natural resources, 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences and community economic development.