Ellen G. Sutter

In Memoriam
Professor of Pomology Emeritus
1945-2005

ELLEN G. SUTTER

Birth: 1945
Death: November 3, 2005, Davis, California

Education

  • B.A., Biology, Brandeis University, 1967
  • M.A., Psychology, Columbia University, 1972
  • M.S., Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture, Cornell University, 1978
  • Ph.D., Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture, Cornell University, 1981

Employment

  • Assistant Professor, Iowa State University, 1980–1982
  • Assistant Professor to Full Professor, UC Davis Department of Pomology (later Plant Sciences), 1982–2005
  • Director, UC Davis Teaching Resources Center, 2002–2005

Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies

  • Member, American Society for Horticultural Science
  • Member, International Plant Propagators’ Society
  • Member, Plant Growth Regulator Society of America
  • Member, Iowa Academy of Sciences
  • Member, Graduate Women in Science

Research Contributions and Impact

Ellen Sutter specialized in plant propagation, plant cell, tissue, and organ culture, and the detection of endogenous plant growth substances. She authored or co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and presented over 30 abstracts at scientific meetings worldwide. Her research notably advanced propagation techniques for walnut rootstocks and contributed to a deeper understanding of plant developmental processes.

Publications and Scholarly Leadership

Sutter was a contributing author to UC Agricultural Experiment Station reports and co-authored multiple papers on walnut rootstock propagation and nursery production. Her collaborative research with colleagues such as James McKenna, Gale McGranahan, and David Burger supported the development of improved clonal propagation techniques in Juglans species.

Teaching and Mentorship

Teaching was central to Sutter’s academic career. She regularly taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Plant Propagation and Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture. She also participated in seminar courses and the Davis Honors Challenge program. As an advisor, she served the Plant Sciences Undergraduate Major, Exploratory Major, Graduate Group in Horticulture and Agronomy, and was Master Advisor for the Plant Biology Graduate Group.

Collaboration and Community

Sutter actively promoted campus-wide instructional innovation through her role as Director of the Teaching Resources Center. She led the development of instructional tutorials, supported the Summer Institute on Technology in Teaching (SITT), and advocated for experiential learning models. She was known as an early adopter of educational technology and collaborated with campus units such as Mediaworks and the School of Education to improve post-secondary teaching.

Legacy

Ellen G. Sutter made lasting contributions to both plant science and teaching at UC Davis. Her research in propagation and tissue culture enriched walnut cultivation practices. Through her work at the Teaching Resources Center, she shaped the instructional strategies of faculty across campus. Sutter’s dedication to students and her leadership in academic innovation continue to influence undergraduate education and faculty development at UC Davis.

References

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