Barbara D. Webster

Profile photo of Barbara D. Webster

In Memoriam
Professor Emerita of Agronomy
1929-2017

BARBARA D. WEBSTER

Birth: 1929, Boston, Massachusetts
Death: September 7, 2017, Davis, California

Education

  • B.S., Botany, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1950
  • M.A., Biology, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, 1952
  • Ph.D., Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1957

Employment

  • National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, 1958–1959
  • Acting Assistant Professor, Purdue University, 1960–1964
  • Laboratory Technician, UC Davis, 1966–1967
  • Lecturer and Assistant Research Morphologist, Departments of Agronomy and Range Science and Vegetable Crops, UC Davis, 1967–1979
  • Professor and Agronomist, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis, 1979–1992
  • Management Fellow, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, 1980–1981
  • Associate Dean, Division of Biological Sciences, 1981–1982
  • Associate Dean for Research and Development, Graduate Studies and Research, 1982–1989
  • Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, UC Davis, 1989–1992
  • Interim Director, Small Ruminant Collaborative Research Support Program (USAID), c. 1990

Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies

  • Distinguished Fellow, Botanical Society of America, 2008
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Fellow, American Society for Horticultural Science
  • President, Botanical Society of America, 1983
  • First Woman Treasurer, Botanical Society of America, 1977–1981
  • University Medal, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
  • Visiting Scholar, People’s Republic of China
  • Chair, City of Davis Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment
  • Co-chair, Grants Committee, Davis Regional Science Center

Research Contributions and Impact

Dr. Webster’s research spanned plant anatomy, morphology, ultrastructure, and physiology, with lasting contributions in reproductive biology, nitrogen fixation, and seed development. Her early work on bracken fern morphogenesis and postdoctoral focus on organ abscission became long-running themes. At UC Davis, she investigated the development of flowers, fruits and seeds in legumes and other crop plants, and was awarded grants from the USDA, USAID, NSF, and the California Dry Bean Advisory Board. A Senior Fulbright Research Fellow, she conducted field research in Kenya on nitrogen fixation in beans, collaborating with students at the University of Nairobi.

Publications and Scholarly Leadership

Webster authored more than 100 scholarly publications, including journal articles and book chapters on plant structure, development, and stress physiology. Her work appeared in leading botanical and horticultural journals and contributed to reports from the UC Agricultural Experiment Station. She served as editor of Madroño and was recognized for her significant scholarly impact over several decades.

Teaching and Mentorship

Webster taught undergraduate courses in crop morphology and mentored both undergraduate and graduate students, including many women and underrepresented minorities. She also trained postdoctoral researchers and actively supported junior faculty through faculty development workshops at UC Davis and across the U.S., particularly on navigating academic advancement.

Collaboration and Community

Beyond campus, Webster collaborated with growers and researchers through Cooperative Extension and international programs. She advocated for academic inclusivity through the UC Davis Women’s Resources and Research Center and co-founded the Faculty Women’s Research Support Group. She regularly delivered talks nationwide on the challenges faced by women in science and academia.

Legacy

Barbara Webster was a pioneering plant scientist and institutional leader whose work in developmental botany and academic administration shaped research and mentoring at UC Davis and beyond. She was instrumental in improving equity in academia and championed the representation of women in the sciences. Her legacy is carried forward through the Barbara D. Webster Scholar Award, which supports faculty who exemplify leadership and advocacy in the plant sciences. Her contributions continue to influence generations of scientists, educators, and leaders.

References

For additional tributes, interviews, and biographies, see the following resources: