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Tom Martin

Assistant Director
  • Senior Instructor
Tom Martin Photo
Tom Martin
1320 Litton-Reaves Hall
175 West Campus Drive (0334)
Blacksburg, VA 24061

The very special industries of landscaping and horticulture provide an opportunity to enrich people’s lives through ever-changing aesthetics.   I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to engage with students and help them develop the knowledge and skills to provide this service to the world.  To help grow my student’s educational foundations, I strive to provide as rich a learning environment as possible; utilizing service-learning projects, outdoor classrooms, community engagement, and industry support to expand on the fundamental concepts learned in the classroom environment.  It is incredibly rewarding to see AT graduates finding success in the Green Industry while they beautify the world.

  • M.S., Horticulture, May 2001, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. Advisor:  Dr. J. Roger Harris
  • B.A., English, May 1993, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
  • B.S., Psychology, May 1992, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
  • 2021 – Present: Assistant Director, Agricultural Technology, Landscape and Turf Management Option
  • 2005 - Present: Senior Instructor, Agricultural Technology, Virginia Tech
  • 1999 - 2004:  Teaching Assistant, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech.
  • 2000 - 2003: Landscape Designer & Commercial Landscape Contractor, Valley Landscaping, Virginia.
  • 1995 – 1999: Garden Center Assistant Manager, Laurel Creek Nursery, Virginia 
  • Woody Landscape Plants (AT 0574)
  • Landscape Design (AT 0684)
  • Hardscape Materials and Installation (AT 0714)
  • Landscape Skills Practicum (AT 0724) 
  • Herbaceous Pants (AT 0564)
  • CAD for Landscaping (AT 0444)
  • Horticulture Production (AT 0544)
  • Landscape Contracting (AT 0694)

 

  • Academic Advisor to all Landscape students within the AT Program
  • Coach of the Virginia Tech National Collegiate Landscape Competition team
  • National Association of Landscape Professionals member
  • North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture member

Martin, T.,  Mykerezi, P., Doak, S. 2010.  Incorporating Service Learning Projects To Improve the Student Experience. (Poster)  Proceedings of the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture 2010. NACTAteacher.org. 

 

Martin, T.P., J.R. Harris, G.K. Eaton and O.K. Miller.  2003.  The efficacy of ectomycorrhizal colonization of pin oak and scarlet oak in nursery production.  Journal of Environmental Horticulture 21(1): 45-50.

 

Martin, T., G.K. Eaton, J. R. Harris. 2004.  Effects of Various Compost-amended Substrates on Water Use  Efficiency and Leaf Nutrition of Clethra alnifolia. Proceedings of the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference 

 

Eaton, G.K., J.R. Harris, T. Martin.  2002.  Variation in physical and chemical properties of compost-amended pine bark substrates. Proceedings of the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference 47: 80-83.

 

Martin, T., J. R. Harris, G.K. Eaton. 2001.  Success rates for inoculation of Pin and Scarlet Oak with mycorrhizal fungi. Proceedings of the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference 46: 30-32.

 

 Martin, T., J. R. Harris, G.K. Eaton. 2001.  Growth and drought resistance of 15-gallon pot-in-pot Scarlet Oak colonized with mycorrhizal fungi.  Proceedings of the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference 46: 33-36.