John M. Dole is Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs at North Carolina State University and past Chairman of the Board of the American Society for Horticultural Science. John began a lifelong interest in horticulture by working at a local farm market, growing cut flowers in his garden for sale, and picking strawberries, raspberries, apples, and pears for local commercial operations.
He received a B.S. degree from Michigan State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, both in the area of Horticulture. He began his academic career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Dole moved to the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University in 2000, becoming Director of Graduate Programs in 2004 and Department Head in 2011.
He has a long history of significant research, teaching, extension, and outreach contributions to the field of floriculture, most notably in the areas of production and postharvest handling of cut flowers, cuttings and poinsettias. His students have excelled in a variety of industry, public garden, governmental, or academic positions. As Department Head he focused on student recruitment into horticulture and spreading the word about the benefits of horticulture.
Dr. Dole specializes in floricultural crops research and teaches floriculture courses including Greenhouse Management, HS 440, and Production of Floriculture Crops, HS 442 . In addition, he serves as Executive Advisor for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, and co-authored Floriculture Principles and Species, 2nd edition, 2005, with Harold F. Wilkins.
Dr. Dole has been involved with the Seed Your Future movement since it's founding in 2014. He was an inaugural member of the Steering Committee, and served on the Advisory Council until late 2018 when he joined the National Leadership Cabinet.
