Sergio Pichardo joined ABAC as an agriculture professor last fall. Pichardo is originally from León, Nicaragua. It was there that he attended the National Agriculture University and earned his Bachelor of Science in agronomy.
Pichardo traveled halfway across the world to pursue his master’s degree at Uppsala University in Sweden. He received his Master’s in Plant Pathology and Mycology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden. Pichardo finally earned his Ph.D. in Entomology and Plant Pathology at Mississippi State University (MS).
While at MS, Pichardo worked as a teaching assistant and research teaching assistant. He also taught genetics and microbiology at Thomas University in Nicaragua for 15 years. After hearing about a position opening at ABAC from a colleague, Pichardo decided to apply. Within a week after his interview, he was hired. He officially began teaching at ABAC in August of 2018.
Pichardo currently teaches fundamentals of plant protection and insect pest management. He said that grades are extremely important and want to make sure students are prepared. He uses different methods to help students learn materials including games and extra-credit work. Pichardo doesn’t just assign his student’s classwork but also lets them do hands-on work.
His students have visited the greenhouse at UGA and went to the farm on campus to see how sprayer calibration works. Pichardo said that knowing how to use pest management equipment like this is just as important as learning in the classroom.
Next semester he will teach fundamentals of plant protection alongside plant disease management. He also plans on using different academic tools in the future to help students even more. When he isn’t working, Pichardo enjoys biking, going on hikes and visiting parks.
Since coming to ABAC, Pichardo has had a great experience. “Teaching is something I enjoy doing.” He also said that the students here are very respectful and engaged. “If I can do something to help them reach their goals then I will do it,” Pichardo said that the staff is just as nice as the students. “I feel very comfortable here at ABAC. I like the environment. The faculty is friendly, and the students are nice. It’s a good way to live.”
