Research Associate Professor Yanhong Dong retired from her position in the Department of Plant Pathology on July 3, 2026 after 24 years of service. The Department community enjoyed a relaxed, jovial Coffee Hour on June 24 to celebrate Yanhong. She is pictured here with her longtime colleague and lab manager, Anita Jurevica.
Before finding a career in plant pathology, Yanhong obtained a PhD in inorganic chemistry at Nanjing University in her home country of China. This unique background has allowed Yanhong to fill a vital role in the small-grains diagnostics community: her lab group uses gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to measure mycotoxin contamination in small grains. This service is valuable to researchers and grain-growers alike as they work to make safe-to-consume grain products.
As a retiree, Yanhong plans to spend time with her family, including traveling to China to visit her parents.