Starting in February, the Doctor is in.

Dr. John Kaminski in the pages of Golf Course Industry, that is.

Next month, the Penn State turf department standout and industry social media guru will join GCI’s all-star team of columnists to offer his thoughts on effective communications, trends in turf research, what he learns from his students and much more. “John is, quite simply, the driving force behind a sea change that’s going on in our business right now,” said Pat Jones, publisher. “We’re handing him a megaphone to spread his message to even more folks who can benefit from his perspective and incredible energy.”

Kaminski is assistant professor of turf management at Penn State and director of the schools storied Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program. He  holds master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Maryland and two bachelor’s degrees from Penn State. He is a previous recipient of the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Award of Excellence and the GCSAA Watson Fellowship. He is a frequent speaker at industry events on social media and other topics of interest to today’s superintendents.

Kaminski’s new column, which will be called “John E. Turfnerd” in honor of one of his Twitter handles, will appear every other month in GCI. He joins other industry leaders, including Tim Moraghan, Bruce Williams, Terry Buchen, Monroe Miller, Henry DeLozier, Dennis Lyon and Brian Vinchesi, on the magazine’s masthead of columnists and contributing editors.