John Skinner
Professor and Apiculture Specialist
Entomology and Plant Pathology
865-974-0209
jskinner@utk.edu

Dr. John Skinner, is Professor and Extension Apiculture Specialist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. He earned his PhD with Dr. Robbin Thorp at UC, Davis studying pollination of sunflower.  His research includes developing sustainable IPM systems for honey bee pests in the southeastern United States and pollination ecology of native and introduced species. His two graduate students study pollination ecology of dogwood and comparing cucurbit pollination in organic and traditional systems with and without beneficial companion plantings.

 John’s Extension duties include managing the Tennessee Beemaster Program (750+), training Extension agents and educating beekeepers and the public. He is developing the new “Bee Health” Community of Practice for eXtension with help from colleagues to provide accurate web-based information about bees and ongoing studies concerning Colony Collapse Disorder, a recent severe, unknown threat to honey bees.

 John has three wonderful children (Ian, Leah and Jonathan) and a very beautiful and tolerant partner, Kathleen.  John can be found hiking with Boy Scouts, playing paddleball or fly fishing for trout in the Smoky Mountains or East Tennessee tailwaters.