Musser International Turfgrass Foundation selects 2026 Award of Excellence recipient

The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation has selected Maureen Kahiu, Ph.D., as the 2026 Award of Excellence recipient. 

The award is given to outstanding Ph.D. candidates who, in the final phase of their graduate studies, demonstrated overall excellence throughout their doctoral program in turfgrass research. 

The criteria for selecting award recipients include graduate work, academic record, dissertation, publications, leadership and extracurricular activities.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected as this year’s Musser Award of Excellence recipient, and I’m genuinely humbled to have my name listed among some of the greatest turfgrass scientists,” said Kahiu. “This achievement is owed to the steadfast support of my husband, Matthew, and my family.” 

Kahiu received a Bachelor of Science in environmental horticulture and landscaping technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya, graduating in 2016. She completed a master’s in agronomy in 2022, with a minor in plant pathology, at Penn State University, where her research focused on demethylation-inhibitor fungicides and Clarireedia spp. In 2025, Kahiu earned a Ph.D. in plant, soil and environmental cciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she maintained a 4.0 GPA. Her doctoral research examined putting green root-zone organic matter dynamics and turfgrass performance and she has produced multiple peer-reviewed publications.  

Kahiu currently serves as an assistant extension educator of turfgrass and weed ecology at the University of Connecticut. In this role, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in turfgrass and weed science, conducts applied research, advises student organizations and develops professional training programs for turfgrass managers.  

“The Award means a great deal to me, and I am truly thankful to everyone who has guided and encouraged me through my journey, especially Dr. Jim Brosnan, Dr. John Kaminski and Mr. Charles Munyori,” said Kahiu. “Their mentorship has shown me the endless possibilities in this wonderful industry, that I plan to continue serving through my teaching and extension responsibilities at UConn.” 

To date, awards have been granted to doctoral students from universities including: Arizona, Auburn, Cornell, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Michigan State, Rutgers, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech. 

Musser International Turfgrass Foundation president Frank Dobie said, “All of the applicants for the Award of Excellence are of the highest caliber. We strive to select the one candidate that we feel is the best of the best and, this year, that was Dr. Kahiu.” 

To learn more about Professor H. Burton Musser, the foundation’s history and past recipients of the award, visit the Musser Foundation website.