ST. LOUIS — Driven to take on challenges that affect vulnerable species while protecting the food supply, Wendy Sue Wheeler has meaningfully contributed to the field of pesticide application in Washington for over 30 years.
The Washington State University Extension pesticide program director recently earned the President’s Award from The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) in recognition of her leadership and collaborative approaches.
“I was deeply honored to receive this award,” Wheeler said. “It means the world to be recognized by my inspiring, professional peers.”
Accepting the award during TPSA’s annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri, the WSU Extension pesticide director crafts solutions that safeguard the interests of a diverse group of stakeholders.
“Wendy represents a rare combination of heart and hard work, serving at both the committee level and the leadership level as vice president, president, and immediate past president,” said current TPSA President Nicole Jansen. “She has consistently strengthened TPSA through steady, thoughtful, and practical guidance. Our organization is better because of her.”
Considered one of the premier pesticide stewardship organizations in the U.S., TPSA convenes state and federal regulators, universities, public organizations, private companies, and pesticide users annually at a national conference. They also provide a variety of clearinghouse technical resources and on-call member support.
“TPSA is all about collaboration — bringing the very tough pesticide issues and diverse viewpoints to the table and coming out with a solution that is implemented across the U.S.,” said Wheeler. “We have frank conversations about future challenges.”
Attracted to TPSA’s commitment to stewardship, Wheeler joined the organization nearly 15 years ago. She has served on its board since 2014.
“I strongly believe that before anyone even purchases a pesticide, they should know everything about that particular product, all the way through proper disposal,” she said. “TPSA members represent every aspect of stewardship, from the chemical companies and the regulators to the educators, end users, and people who recycle the pesticides.”
Wheeler said her TPSA involvement keeps her at the forefront of emerging challenges that will impact pesticide users in Washington state. The conversations that occur during TPSA’s annual meetings often translate into policies adopted by federal organizations like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Those conversations also impact the daily work she does with her Pesticide Resources and Education Program team on the WSU Pullman campus.
“Wendy’s national recognition is a reflection of her leadership and commitment to pesticide stewardship. Her ability to bring people together across sectors to protect both our environment and food systems exemplifies the very best of WSU Extension’s mission. We are incredibly proud of her,” said Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, Raj Khosla.
The WSU pesticide program that Wheeler oversees completes more than 5,000 publication reviews annually to ensure pesticide information accuracy and adherence to the law, whether it’s the federal Endangered Species Act or other municipal or local Washington guidelines. The program also maintains the WSU Pesticide Information Center OnLine Database (PICOL), which allows anyone in the state to access relevant information on a particular pesticide.
“My involvement with TPSA has been such a key part of my career,” Wheeler said. “As a mentor, I now help people achieve success at TPSA and within their individual organizations.”
Contact
Wendy Sue Wheeler, Director, WSU Pesticide Resources and Education Program, office phone: 509-335-4183, email: wswheeler@wsu.edu