Research

Ann Marie VanDerZanden

General Information

Dr. Ann Marie VanDerZanden is an Associate Professor of Horticulture, and has been a member of the ISU Department of Horticulture faculty since August, 2003. She received her B.S. from Washington State University, her M.S. from Cornell University, and returned to Washington State University to earn a Ph.D. All three degrees are in horticulture science. Prior to joining the faculty at ISU she was horticulture faculty member at Oregon State University teaching undergraduate classes in landscape design, landscape construction and herbaceous plant identification, and serving as the State Coordinator for the OSU Extension Service Master Gardener program from 1997-2003.

At Iowa State University, Dr. VanDerZanden has extension and teaching responsibilities related to landscape design and construction. She is an extension specialist for nursery and landscape horticulture. Additionally, she teaches Principles of Garden Composition (Hort 380) Beginning Garden Composition Studio (Hort 381) Landscape Construction (Hort 444) and Landscape Contracting and Estimating (Hort 446).

Dr. VanDerZanden's research interests include undergraduate pedagogy, and using new technology to enhance the learning experiences of students and nursery/landscape professionals. She is also interested in finding ways to reach audiences interested in horticulture, that would otherwise be underserved. To this end is serving as a horticulture consultant on a new public television show which has its "content based in science" and works to extend the Land Grant university mission.

Current Research

Survey of Ornamental Horticulture Iowa Project Goal: Compile information and evaluate the economic value of Iowa.s green industry (ornamental plant and allied areas). This is a collaborative project with Dr. Cindy Haynes and funded in part by the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association. The project will survey members of the green industry (wholesale and retail nurseries, garden centers, greenhouses, landscape designers and architects, landscape contractors, arborists) to ascertain the economic value of the industry to Iowa.

Undergraduate Curriculum in Horticulture Project Goal: Evaluate the attitudes and perceptions recent graduates have of the undergraduate horticulture curriculum at Iowa State University. To better understand how well graduates of the Iowa State University Horticulture program are being prepared for employment in the green industry we will survey students who graduated between 1997-2004. Data will be gathered on demographics, employment, and satisfaction with undergraduate curriculum, advising, facilities, course offerings and overall quality of their program area. This information will be used in evaluating current horticulture program areas and provide useful insight to future changes.

Selected Publications

VanDerZanden, A.M. 2005. An integrated approach to enhance critical thinking skills in a landscape construction course. NACTA Jour. 49(2):53-55.
VanDerZanden, A.M. and C. Haynes. 2004. Gardening in the Zone: a collaborative effort between Iowa State University extension and mass media outlets. J. Extension 42(6). (http://www.joe.org/joe/2004december/iw1.shtml)
VanDerZanden, A.M. and E. Kirsch. 2003. Computer and internet use among Oregon master gardeners. HortTech. 13(3): 548-551.
VanDerZanden, A.M. and B. Rost. 2003. Internet video access appears difficult for Oregon extension master gardeners. HortTech. 13(2): 385-387.
Rost, B. and A.M. VanDerZanden. 2003. A case study of online learners participating in the Oregon State University Extension Service master gardener training program. J. Applied Communications 86(2):7-16.
Kirsch, E. and A.M. VanDerZanden. 2002. Demographics and volunteer experiences of Oregon master gardeners. HortTech. 12(3): 505-508.
VanDerZanden, A.M. and C. Hilgert. 2002. Evaluating on-line training modules in the Oregon master gardener program. HortTech 12(2): 297-99.
VanDerZanden, A.M., Rost, R. and R. Eckel. 2002. Basic botany on-line: a training tool for the master gardener program. J. Extension 40(5). (http://www.joe.org.joe/2002october/rb3.shtml)
VanDerZanden, A.M. 2001. The ripple effect: training veteran master gardeners to train incoming volunteers. J. Extension. (http://www.joe.org.joe/2001/rb1.htm)
VanDerZanden, A.M. 2001. Translated content from the Oregon master gardener program broadens use to entry-level nursery employee education programs. HortTech. 11(2): 179-181.

Extension Publications

VanDerZanden, A.M. 2004. Pruning ornamental shrubs. ISU PM 1958. 6 pp.
Bell, N., VanDerZanden, A.M. and L. McMahan. 2001. Water efficient landscape plants. Oregon State University EC 1546, 27 pp.
VanDerZanden, A.M. and J. McNeilan. 2001. Basic design concepts for sustainable landscapes. EC 1533, 12 pp.