Jayne M. Zajicek

Associate Professor, Associate Department Head for Undergraduate Programs, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2133

Phone: 979-845-4482 FAX: 979-845-0627

E-mail: j-zajicek@tamu.edu

Dr. Zajicek is a Member of the Graduate Faculty of Texas A&M University, and can serve as a Chair, Co-chair or Member of Graduate Student Advising Committees.

As the science of people-plant research expands, more and more opportunities for graduates in this area are becoming available. Dr. Zajicek's research focuses on the interaction of people with plants bringing together the disciplines of horticulture, educational psychology, agricultural education, sociology, elementary and secondary education, and environmental education. Key research projects in her program are investigating the benefits of "school gardens" on various emotional, physical, and psychological characteristics of mainstream, as well as, youth-at-risk students. Other populations being investigated include: prison inmates, the elderly, and the disabled.

Dr. Zajicek has a very viable graduate program with an average of 7-9 students working on MAg, MS and PhD degrees. "Graduate students are the life and inspiration of a research program. I try to give the students in my program the guidance that they need, but at the same time, allow them the freedom to develop the confidence and skills necessary to continue to make significant contributions in the area of people-plant interactions once they graduate from Texas A&M University."

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Bradley, Jennifer, T.M. Waliczek and J.M. Zajicek. 1996. The effect of environmental education and demographics on environmental attitudes of high school students. J. of Nat. Res. and Life Sci. Edu. Accepted.

Campbell, Amy, J.M. Zajicek, C.D. Townsend and T.M. Waliczek. 1996. The influence of activity-based environmental instruction on high school students' environmental attitudes. HortTechnology. Accepted.

Migura, Melanie M., L.A. Whittlesey and J.M. Zajicek. 1996. Effects of the Master Gardener Program on the self-development of female inmates. Hort Technology. Accepted.

Waliczek, Tina, R.H. Mattson, and J.M. Zajikcek. 1996. Benefits of community gardening on quality-of-life of gardeners. J. of Environ. Hort. Accepted.