Ann Mastergeorge is a developmental psychologist with expertise in the area of Early Childhood. She is an Early Childhood Extension Specialist/Associate Professor in the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences and is on the faculty in the division of Family Studies and Human Development in the Norton School. One of her primary areas of expertise is working with families who have very young children at-risk, and implementing prevention and early intervention programs in collaboration with county programs across the state of Arizona. In addition, she is the Chair of the Early Childhood Initiative in the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families. This initiative focuses on prevention,early intervention, risk and resilience in young children (ages birth to five) with particular attention to social-emotional well-being, positive parent-child relationships, as well as evidence-based early interventions for at-risk children and those with disabilities (including autism spectrum disorders and developmental delays). Guiding principles for this initiative include the following: (1) linking neurobiological and behavioral underpinnings of early development; (2) promoting the emotional and developmental well-being of young children; (3) highlighting specific school-readiness skills and strategies; (4) developing and implementing evidence-based early interventions for young children with disabilities and those at-risk; (5) implementing parent, teacher and peer mediated interventions across contexts and; (6) identifying scientific evidence in early intervention and prevention that will serve to guide policy briefs, policy implementation in early childhood, and community outreach practices.
Instruct clientele in the procedures of plant disease diagnosis and management. Clientele include commercial growers, commodity research advisory groups, county agents, agricultural industry representatives, pest control advisors, and others with an interest in plant disease identification and management. Disseminate contemporary information pertaining to factors influencing the initiation, development and management of plant diseases through oral, written and electronic media presentations. Maintain a dynamic, problem-solving research program focused on developing new innovative methods or increasing the efficiency of present plant disease management strategies. Knowledge derived from these research studies will be delivered to clientele by methods already described.
The primary emphasis of Dr. McCloskey's position is in Extension (75%) with a split appointment in research (25%). Dr. McCloskey conducts statewide educational programs in weed management for the diverse agricultural industry and urban areas of Arizona and responds to requests from county agents, growers, and the general public for information on weed control, identification and biology. Dr. McCloskey's research program focuses on the development of new uses for registered herbicides and evaluation of new herbicides and transgenic crop systems for efficacy in managing weeds in Arizona crops, and on the development of alternative means of weed management using innovative technology, mechanical cultivation, crop rotation, and cover crops in cotton, alfalfa, citrus, pecans, pistachios and other crops.