Consuelo Donato Molina
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Assistant Professor
Maria Consuelo Donato is a native of Colombia. She holds a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Caldas (Colombia), M.S. in Rural Development from Javeriana University (Colombia), and PhD in Hispanic Studies from Texas A&M University. She has >20 years in international experience in agriculture-related projects and education (Morocco, Spain, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia).
Consuelo served as National Director of Rural Development Projects in Colombia where she was responsible for the selection and funding authorization of projects in rural communities at a national level. She then served as Advisor to the General Director of the National Land-Use Institute and subsequently was promoted to Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Consuelo has worked as an Environmental Restoration Consultant in Brazil and holds certifications in Agribusiness (Federal University of Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil) as well as in Analysis and Management in Conflict Resolution (University of Nueva Granada, Bogota, Colombia).
Currently, Consuelo is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Environmental Sciences at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Her research interests are in Hispanic, agricultural communities with a focus on migrant farm workers. She also serves as advisor to the USDA-NIFA Grants Program for the College of Agriculture, a program designed to assist undergraduate students to gain experiential learning opportunities in agriculture across the US. While at TAMU-Kingsville, she has assisted with or teaches courses for the Department of Animal Science; Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Environmental Science; and Department of Language and Literature. She enjoys traveling abroad and learning of new cultures.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Assistant Professor
Maria Consuelo Donato is a native of Colombia. She holds a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Caldas (Colombia), M.S. in Rural Development from Javeriana University (Colombia), and PhD in Hispanic Studies from Texas A&M University. She has >20 years in international experience in agriculture-related projects and education (Morocco, Spain, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia).
Consuelo served as National Director of Rural Development Projects in Colombia where she was responsible for the selection and funding authorization of projects in rural communities at a national level. She then served as Advisor to the General Director of the National Land-Use Institute and subsequently was promoted to Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Consuelo has worked as an Environmental Restoration Consultant in Brazil and holds certifications in Agribusiness (Federal University of Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil) as well as in Analysis and Management in Conflict Resolution (University of Nueva Granada, Bogota, Colombia).
Currently, Consuelo is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Environmental Sciences at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Her research interests are in Hispanic, agricultural communities with a focus on migrant farm workers. She also serves as advisor to the USDA-NIFA Grants Program for the College of Agriculture, a program designed to assist undergraduate students to gain experiential learning opportunities in agriculture across the US. While at TAMU-Kingsville, she has assisted with or teaches courses for the Department of Animal Science; Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Environmental Science; and Department of Language and Literature. She enjoys traveling abroad and learning of new cultures.
Margaret Hoffman
The Pennsylvania State University
Assistant Prof of Landscape Contracting
Dr. Margaret C Hoffman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. Teaching at Penn State since 2018, she previously taught at Western Illinois University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She teaches landscape design, construction, and estimating and bidding courses. She received a Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology Fellow Award in 2020-2022 that supported the development of a 360 library of tours and videos using Thinglink as a platform. This library is used in several courses allowing students to view through Meta Quest headsets
The Pennsylvania State University
Assistant Prof of Landscape Contracting
Dr. Margaret C Hoffman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. Teaching at Penn State since 2018, she previously taught at Western Illinois University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She teaches landscape design, construction, and estimating and bidding courses. She received a Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology Fellow Award in 2020-2022 that supported the development of a 360 library of tours and videos using Thinglink as a platform. This library is used in several courses allowing students to view through Meta Quest headsets
Michael Mohney
The Pennsylvania State University
Associate Teaching Professor
Dr. Michael R. Mohney is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. Hired as an instructor in 2008, he specializes in teaching digital technology courses focusing on landscape industry-standard 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and 3D visualization software utilized by experienced landscape industry professionals. He is also proficient with instructional design principles and learning theories that support the development of multimedia instructional materials, including online courses, videos, and assessments that enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
The Pennsylvania State University
Associate Teaching Professor
Dr. Michael R. Mohney is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. Hired as an instructor in 2008, he specializes in teaching digital technology courses focusing on landscape industry-standard 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and 3D visualization software utilized by experienced landscape industry professionals. He is also proficient with instructional design principles and learning theories that support the development of multimedia instructional materials, including online courses, videos, and assessments that enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Nicholas Smerker
Penn State University
Senior TLT Professional
Nick Smerker works at Penn State University where he supports faculty and students through Creative Learning Initiatives, a service of University Libraries' Teaching and Learning with Technology group. His work focuses on storytelling through media assignments, exploration via immersive technologies and design via making tools. Nick has worked in instructional technology for twenty years both at Penn State as well as Washington College.
Penn State University
Senior TLT Professional
Nick Smerker works at Penn State University where he supports faculty and students through Creative Learning Initiatives, a service of University Libraries' Teaching and Learning with Technology group. His work focuses on storytelling through media assignments, exploration via immersive technologies and design via making tools. Nick has worked in instructional technology for twenty years both at Penn State as well as Washington College.
Zhiyong Cheng
University of Florida
Assistant Professor
Dr. Cheng is an Assistant Professor of Nutritional Science at the University of Florida. He received his training as an American Diabetes Association Postdoctoral Fellow (Endocrinology & Metabolism) at Harvard Medical School, and a Postdoctoral Fellow (Enzymology) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, after he earned a PhD in Analytical Biochemistry at Peking
University.
Dr. Cheng yearns to help students impact communities through designed experiential learning in several courses, including Personalized Nutrition (IDS 2935), Nutrition and Metabolism (HUN 4221), Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Nutrition (HUN 4813C), Macronutrients in Human Nutrition (HUN 6235), and Nutritional Epigenomics (HUN 4936/HUN
6936).
In his teaching activities, Dr. Cheng sets high priority on building students’ critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and servant leadership through experiential learning. He has developed a teaching program that closely connects the classroom with the community. Dr. Cheng‘s research program studies the mechanisms of nutrient and hormonal signals regulating metabolism at the molecular level.
Specifically, his research seeks to address how autophagy regulates adiposity and metabolism, and how environmental factors (e.g., diets or nutrients) regulate epigenetic pathways in metabolic health & disease. His long-term goal is to develop mechanism-based strategies for disease treatment or prevention. Dr. Cheng has been a core member of the ELC for three years.
University of Florida
Assistant Professor
Dr. Cheng is an Assistant Professor of Nutritional Science at the University of Florida. He received his training as an American Diabetes Association Postdoctoral Fellow (Endocrinology & Metabolism) at Harvard Medical School, and a Postdoctoral Fellow (Enzymology) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, after he earned a PhD in Analytical Biochemistry at Peking
University.
Dr. Cheng yearns to help students impact communities through designed experiential learning in several courses, including Personalized Nutrition (IDS 2935), Nutrition and Metabolism (HUN 4221), Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Nutrition (HUN 4813C), Macronutrients in Human Nutrition (HUN 6235), and Nutritional Epigenomics (HUN 4936/HUN
6936).
In his teaching activities, Dr. Cheng sets high priority on building students’ critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and servant leadership through experiential learning. He has developed a teaching program that closely connects the classroom with the community. Dr. Cheng‘s research program studies the mechanisms of nutrient and hormonal signals regulating metabolism at the molecular level.
Specifically, his research seeks to address how autophagy regulates adiposity and metabolism, and how environmental factors (e.g., diets or nutrients) regulate epigenetic pathways in metabolic health & disease. His long-term goal is to develop mechanism-based strategies for disease treatment or prevention. Dr. Cheng has been a core member of the ELC for three years.
Laura Greenhaw
University of Florida
assistant professor
Dr. Laura Greenhaw has served on the NACTA Experiential Learning Committee (ELC) for two years and was a key facilitator of an Experiential Learning Workshop at the NACTA 2024 Annual Conference in Wooster, Ohio. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC) at the University of Florida.
Originally from Raton, New Mexico, Greenhaw earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture with teacher certification from West Texas A&M University and a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education from Texas Tech University. After teaching high school agriculture for three years, Greenhaw returned to Texas Tech University, earning a PhD in Agricultural Communications and Education with an emphasis on Agricultural Leadership. Greenhaw has taught courses on leadership theory, agricultural & natural resources issues, volunteer development, team leadership, and ethical leadership. She brings a wide variety of formal and informal teaching experiences with youth to adult audiences, and her teaching philosophy has long been grounded in experiential learning.
Dr. Greenhaw has been recognized with a NACTA Jack Everly Journal Award and NACTA Educator Award, the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Association of Leadership Educators, and the Distinguished Agricultural Leadership Educator Award from the Southern Region American Association for Agricultural Education.
University of Florida
assistant professor
Dr. Laura Greenhaw has served on the NACTA Experiential Learning Committee (ELC) for two years and was a key facilitator of an Experiential Learning Workshop at the NACTA 2024 Annual Conference in Wooster, Ohio. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC) at the University of Florida.
Originally from Raton, New Mexico, Greenhaw earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture with teacher certification from West Texas A&M University and a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education from Texas Tech University. After teaching high school agriculture for three years, Greenhaw returned to Texas Tech University, earning a PhD in Agricultural Communications and Education with an emphasis on Agricultural Leadership. Greenhaw has taught courses on leadership theory, agricultural & natural resources issues, volunteer development, team leadership, and ethical leadership. She brings a wide variety of formal and informal teaching experiences with youth to adult audiences, and her teaching philosophy has long been grounded in experiential learning.
Dr. Greenhaw has been recognized with a NACTA Jack Everly Journal Award and NACTA Educator Award, the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Association of Leadership Educators, and the Distinguished Agricultural Leadership Educator Award from the Southern Region American Association for Agricultural Education.
Ella Johnson
Auburn
Graduate Research Assistant
Gabriella "Ella" Johnson is pursuing a master’s degree in Animal Sciences focusing on sustainable beef systems at Auburn University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from Purdue University. Immediately after graduation, she started as the Feed Mill Assistant at Purdue’s ASREC for the spring 2023 semester.
In college, she interned with Cargill Protein as a Protein Sales Intern in Denver, Colorado, in the summer of 2022. She has experience in feed mill settings measuring and mixing both production and research livestock diets, wherein she was also responsible for record keeping of specific medications and additives. She also worked part-time as a lab animal care technician (primarily rodents) where her main duties focused on monitoring animal health and basic husbandry schedules. In Spring 2022, she started another position as a student manager for the Purdue Women’s Volleyball Team.
She believes it is important for the agriculture industry to have transparency and build trust with consumers. She believes it is the job of food producers and agriculture professionals to ethically produce quality animal products, and she wants to help educate the general public about the ins and outs of the industry.
Auburn
Graduate Research Assistant
Gabriella "Ella" Johnson is pursuing a master’s degree in Animal Sciences focusing on sustainable beef systems at Auburn University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from Purdue University. Immediately after graduation, she started as the Feed Mill Assistant at Purdue’s ASREC for the spring 2023 semester.
In college, she interned with Cargill Protein as a Protein Sales Intern in Denver, Colorado, in the summer of 2022. She has experience in feed mill settings measuring and mixing both production and research livestock diets, wherein she was also responsible for record keeping of specific medications and additives. She also worked part-time as a lab animal care technician (primarily rodents) where her main duties focused on monitoring animal health and basic husbandry schedules. In Spring 2022, she started another position as a student manager for the Purdue Women’s Volleyball Team.
She believes it is important for the agriculture industry to have transparency and build trust with consumers. She believes it is the job of food producers and agriculture professionals to ethically produce quality animal products, and she wants to help educate the general public about the ins and outs of the industry.
Robert King
Monroe Community College
Senior Specialist
Bob’ s background includes 20 years in the private sector and thirty years with the public sector in the areas of agronomy, economics, operations, land use, economic development and legal issues. For eleven years, Bob worked as an Extension Agent for Cornell Cooperative Extension. On January 1, 2007, Bob was appointed as Director of the Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute at Monroe Community College where he continues his work with farmers, public officials, faculty, students and the public. Bob has a B. S. in agricultural economics from Penn State, masters in business administration from Shippensburg University and a Ph.D. in agriculture education from Penn State.
Monroe Community College
Senior Specialist
Bob’ s background includes 20 years in the private sector and thirty years with the public sector in the areas of agronomy, economics, operations, land use, economic development and legal issues. For eleven years, Bob worked as an Extension Agent for Cornell Cooperative Extension. On January 1, 2007, Bob was appointed as Director of the Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute at Monroe Community College where he continues his work with farmers, public officials, faculty, students and the public. Bob has a B. S. in agricultural economics from Penn State, masters in business administration from Shippensburg University and a Ph.D. in agriculture education from Penn State.
Chyi-lyi Liang
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Agriculture
Dr. Liang is an award-winning scholar and founder of Dollar Enterprise, one of the best entrepreneurship curricula in the US. Dr. Liang has a substantial record of publications, presentations, awards, and grants in entrepreneurship & community development. Her research interests include use of technology to deepen experiential learning, multifunctional agriculture, entrepreneurship, rural development, food systems, food networks.
Dr. Liang has been a member of the ELC for four years and an instrumental contributor to three ELC workshops at NACTA Conferences. Her work has been published in Agricultural Finance Review, Agricultural Research and Technology and the Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Agriculture
Dr. Liang is an award-winning scholar and founder of Dollar Enterprise, one of the best entrepreneurship curricula in the US. Dr. Liang has a substantial record of publications, presentations, awards, and grants in entrepreneurship & community development. Her research interests include use of technology to deepen experiential learning, multifunctional agriculture, entrepreneurship, rural development, food systems, food networks.
Dr. Liang has been a member of the ELC for four years and an instrumental contributor to three ELC workshops at NACTA Conferences. Her work has been published in Agricultural Finance Review, Agricultural Research and Technology and the Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Donald Mulvaney
Auburn University
Faculty
A product of a diversified family farm upbringing, immersed in FFA and 4-H experiences, Dr. Mulvaney pursued his passion for animal agriculture at the University of Illinois where he competed on livestock, meats judging and evaluation teams. After a stint of teaching high school ag education, he accepted a role to teach meat science and coach meats & meat animal evaluation teams at MSU where his passion for research in growth and muscle biology was ignited. Dr. Mulvaney’s research interests have historically related to regulatory biology of muscle and meat through fetal programming but also focused on factors to enhance student development, teaching, leadership process and analytics around communication strategies which can help graduates address ag industry issues. In addition to research areas of biology, he developed several courses in leadership and communication leading to his development of the minor in leadership studies within the College of Agriculture, a revised Ag Communications degree curriculum and launch of a campus-wide leadership minor (LEAD). His scholarly works include $7+ million in grants and approximately 250 refereed journal articles, non-refereed articles, abstracts at national/international meetings, and invited presentations combined. He has served as a former Associate Director for the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning where he facilitated New Faculty Scholars, Future Faculty mentoring, classroom assessments and other professional faculty development programming.
Auburn University
Faculty
A product of a diversified family farm upbringing, immersed in FFA and 4-H experiences, Dr. Mulvaney pursued his passion for animal agriculture at the University of Illinois where he competed on livestock, meats judging and evaluation teams. After a stint of teaching high school ag education, he accepted a role to teach meat science and coach meats & meat animal evaluation teams at MSU where his passion for research in growth and muscle biology was ignited. Dr. Mulvaney’s research interests have historically related to regulatory biology of muscle and meat through fetal programming but also focused on factors to enhance student development, teaching, leadership process and analytics around communication strategies which can help graduates address ag industry issues. In addition to research areas of biology, he developed several courses in leadership and communication leading to his development of the minor in leadership studies within the College of Agriculture, a revised Ag Communications degree curriculum and launch of a campus-wide leadership minor (LEAD). His scholarly works include $7+ million in grants and approximately 250 refereed journal articles, non-refereed articles, abstracts at national/international meetings, and invited presentations combined. He has served as a former Associate Director for the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning where he facilitated New Faculty Scholars, Future Faculty mentoring, classroom assessments and other professional faculty development programming.
Mark Russell
Purdue University
Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication
Mark Russell is a Professor of Engagement and Intercultural Leadership at Purdue University. Dr. Russell earned his BS (Cornell University), MS, and PhD (University of Illinois) in Animal Sciences. He served as an Extension Horse Specialist (1975-1982 IL and 1982-2015 IN) and Department Head (2015 – 2022) and now serves on the AgLeadPro Certificate leadership program committee. He is also a Faculty Fellow at the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities.
After a career in extension, he is co-teaching Communicating Across Cultures, Building Intercultural Partnerships, Global Learning for AFNR, International Engagement & Development Strategies, and study-abroad International Engagement Methods for Sustainable Development in Ecuador, Romania, Haiti, and Peru. His research is now interconnected with his engagement projects related to conducting professional development programs to build effective intercultural engagement, community engagement, and career-ready competencies.
Dr. Russell is an active Intercultural Development Inventory (IDIR) Qualified Administrator and contributes to several international development and extension projects including Farmer-to-Farmer in Trinidad & Tobago, a USAID project in Duhok, Iraq, and a Fulbright Specialist in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Purdue University
Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication
Mark Russell is a Professor of Engagement and Intercultural Leadership at Purdue University. Dr. Russell earned his BS (Cornell University), MS, and PhD (University of Illinois) in Animal Sciences. He served as an Extension Horse Specialist (1975-1982 IL and 1982-2015 IN) and Department Head (2015 – 2022) and now serves on the AgLeadPro Certificate leadership program committee. He is also a Faculty Fellow at the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities.
After a career in extension, he is co-teaching Communicating Across Cultures, Building Intercultural Partnerships, Global Learning for AFNR, International Engagement & Development Strategies, and study-abroad International Engagement Methods for Sustainable Development in Ecuador, Romania, Haiti, and Peru. His research is now interconnected with his engagement projects related to conducting professional development programs to build effective intercultural engagement, community engagement, and career-ready competencies.
Dr. Russell is an active Intercultural Development Inventory (IDIR) Qualified Administrator and contributes to several international development and extension projects including Farmer-to-Farmer in Trinidad & Tobago, a USAID project in Duhok, Iraq, and a Fulbright Specialist in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Matheus Cezarotto
New Mexico State University
Assistant Professor, Extension Technology Specialist
Matheus Cezarotto is an Assistant Professor and Extension Educational Technology Specialist with New Mexico State University’s Innovative Media Research and Extension Department and its Learning Games Lab. Dr. Cezarotto coordinates the Learning Games Lab, providing inclusive design expertise for the team’s educational technology products, which include learning games, animations, and virtual labs, and researches how these affordances support learning. His published work focuses on educational media design, investigating and developing effective research-based learning technology tools.
New Mexico State University
Assistant Professor, Extension Technology Specialist
Matheus Cezarotto is an Assistant Professor and Extension Educational Technology Specialist with New Mexico State University’s Innovative Media Research and Extension Department and its Learning Games Lab. Dr. Cezarotto coordinates the Learning Games Lab, providing inclusive design expertise for the team’s educational technology products, which include learning games, animations, and virtual labs, and researches how these affordances support learning. His published work focuses on educational media design, investigating and developing effective research-based learning technology tools.
Pamela Martinez
New Mexico State University
Associate Professor
Pamela N. Martinez is an Assistant Professor and Learning Technologies Specialist with New Mexico State University’s Innovative Media Research and Extension Department and its Learning Games Lab. Dr. Martinez oversees product development and assessment for grant-funded research projects. She has over 25 years’ experience creating educational media and games and research strengths in diversity, equity and inclusion, making sure all audiences are represented in developed media and have access to appropriate learning tools.
New Mexico State University
Associate Professor
Pamela N. Martinez is an Assistant Professor and Learning Technologies Specialist with New Mexico State University’s Innovative Media Research and Extension Department and its Learning Games Lab. Dr. Martinez oversees product development and assessment for grant-funded research projects. She has over 25 years’ experience creating educational media and games and research strengths in diversity, equity and inclusion, making sure all audiences are represented in developed media and have access to appropriate learning tools.
Hannah Scherer
Virginia Tech
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
Hannah H. Scherer, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for STEM Education in Agriculture in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech. In this role, she works to support and improve STEM teaching and learning in non-formal 4-H programming and secondary agricultural education and conducts cross-disciplinary research in STEM pedagogy and systems thinking. Dr. Scherer has science and agricultural education teaching experience at secondary and postsecondary levels and currently teaches courses in STEM Integration in Agriculture, Teaching and Training Methods, Systems Thinking Pedagogy and Praxis, and Agricultural Laboratory Management. She has developed and led numerous inquiry-based, in-service professional development experiences; co-authored agricultural sustainability-related curriculum materials; conducted systems thinking workshops and webinars; and co-authored review papers in systems thinking and STEM Education in Agriculture.
Virginia Tech
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
Hannah H. Scherer, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for STEM Education in Agriculture in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech. In this role, she works to support and improve STEM teaching and learning in non-formal 4-H programming and secondary agricultural education and conducts cross-disciplinary research in STEM pedagogy and systems thinking. Dr. Scherer has science and agricultural education teaching experience at secondary and postsecondary levels and currently teaches courses in STEM Integration in Agriculture, Teaching and Training Methods, Systems Thinking Pedagogy and Praxis, and Agricultural Laboratory Management. She has developed and led numerous inquiry-based, in-service professional development experiences; co-authored agricultural sustainability-related curriculum materials; conducted systems thinking workshops and webinars; and co-authored review papers in systems thinking and STEM Education in Agriculture.
Bob Williams
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Professor
He hungers to know more about food. A native of Sulphur Bluff, Texas, Bob Williams studies food from farm to fork. What we eat and how we eat it is rooted in our history, geography and traditions. Farmers face economic, social and natural challenges that affect our food availability and accessibility. By studying the past, Williams brings these concerns to the present reality. But the conversation doesn’t end there. For Williams, studying food is more than acquiring knowledge. It's about tasting and seeing. Our Twin Oaks Farm at A&M-Commerce lets him do so. A university-owned and student-operated farm, Twin Oaks brings the classroom to the soil and fields. Farming takes time. But for the farmer, the joy starts in the ground, long before it reaches our dinner table.
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Professor
He hungers to know more about food. A native of Sulphur Bluff, Texas, Bob Williams studies food from farm to fork. What we eat and how we eat it is rooted in our history, geography and traditions. Farmers face economic, social and natural challenges that affect our food availability and accessibility. By studying the past, Williams brings these concerns to the present reality. But the conversation doesn’t end there. For Williams, studying food is more than acquiring knowledge. It's about tasting and seeing. Our Twin Oaks Farm at A&M-Commerce lets him do so. A university-owned and student-operated farm, Twin Oaks brings the classroom to the soil and fields. Farming takes time. But for the farmer, the joy starts in the ground, long before it reaches our dinner table.
Jama Coartney
VTT
PhD Candidate
Jama is a graduate student at the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education. Jama's research interests include:
- Leadership studies and higher education
- Local/community/alternative food systems and community development
- Short food supply chains, value supply chains, food access, and food security
- Program evaluation and facilitating change
VTT
PhD Candidate
Jama is a graduate student at the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education. Jama's research interests include:
- Leadership studies and higher education
- Local/community/alternative food systems and community development
- Short food supply chains, value supply chains, food access, and food security
- Program evaluation and facilitating change
Eric Kaufman
Virginia Tech
Professor & Extension Specialist
Dr. Eric K. Kaufman, is a professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education (ALCE). Eric has practical experience in the areas of professional learning, train-the-trainer models, and shared leadership. He also brings experience with research on teaching strategies to better prepare graduates for the agricultural workforce, as well as key considerations for leadership development in agricultural contexts.
Virginia Tech
Professor & Extension Specialist
Dr. Eric K. Kaufman, is a professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education (ALCE). Eric has practical experience in the areas of professional learning, train-the-trainer models, and shared leadership. He also brings experience with research on teaching strategies to better prepare graduates for the agricultural workforce, as well as key considerations for leadership development in agricultural contexts.
John Ewing
The Pennsylvania State University
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education
Dr. John C. Ewing is a Professor of Agricultural Education in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education at Penn State, where he teaches courses in agricultural mechanics, program planning and evaluation, and an orientation course in agricultural education. Currently, he serves as the undergraduate program coordinator for the Agricultural and Extension major, and the Agricultural Science major. In this role, he works with students to make certain they are working towards a successful completion of their program. Dr. Ewing has served on several department, college, and university committees related to curriculum and instruction. Through this service he is better able to guide students to opportunities that will enhance their Penn State experience. He advises approximately 20 undergraduate students, annually. Dr. Ewing also works with individuals that are interested in securing teacher certification in agriculture via alternative certification routes. His research program focuses on the improvement of teaching and learning; specifically, experiential learning and teaching in laboratory settings.
The Pennsylvania State University
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education
Dr. John C. Ewing is a Professor of Agricultural Education in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education at Penn State, where he teaches courses in agricultural mechanics, program planning and evaluation, and an orientation course in agricultural education. Currently, he serves as the undergraduate program coordinator for the Agricultural and Extension major, and the Agricultural Science major. In this role, he works with students to make certain they are working towards a successful completion of their program. Dr. Ewing has served on several department, college, and university committees related to curriculum and instruction. Through this service he is better able to guide students to opportunities that will enhance their Penn State experience. He advises approximately 20 undergraduate students, annually. Dr. Ewing also works with individuals that are interested in securing teacher certification in agriculture via alternative certification routes. His research program focuses on the improvement of teaching and learning; specifically, experiential learning and teaching in laboratory settings.
Forrest Lang
Ohio State University
Instructor
Upon graduating from the agricultural systems management program in 2020 at Ohio State, I decided to pursue teaching as a career. As I worked through my master's in agricultural education, I was fortunate enough to teach a variety of courses across both Ohio State's Columbus and Wooster campuses. After graduating in 2023, I began my current role as an instructor at Ohio State ATI. I currently teach data analysis, crop and soils technology, and soil and water management. I also advise our Agricultural Systems Management student organization. When I am not teaching, I help on my family's farm where we raise cattle, hogs, chickens, and grow a variety of specialty crops for a local foods co-op.
Ohio State University
Instructor
Upon graduating from the agricultural systems management program in 2020 at Ohio State, I decided to pursue teaching as a career. As I worked through my master's in agricultural education, I was fortunate enough to teach a variety of courses across both Ohio State's Columbus and Wooster campuses. After graduating in 2023, I began my current role as an instructor at Ohio State ATI. I currently teach data analysis, crop and soils technology, and soil and water management. I also advise our Agricultural Systems Management student organization. When I am not teaching, I help on my family's farm where we raise cattle, hogs, chickens, and grow a variety of specialty crops for a local foods co-op.
Zoelie Rivera-Ocasio
Penn State University
PhD Student
Zoelie Rivera-Ocasio, from Puerto Rico, is an environmentalist with her hands and feet on the ground, involved in promoting the importance of regenerative and cyclical agriculture. Founder and part of the board of directors of the organization Arte-Soil-Ser, whose mission is to integrate soil sciences in a transdisciplinary way, to investigate, educate, and disseminate on the importance of the soil resource, its relationship with ecosystem services and human well-being. She has worked in agricultural aspects for the third sector, governmental and academic entities. She is currently studying doctoral studies in Biogeochemistry and Soil Fertility and makes watercolors with soil at Zoils & Pigments.
Penn State University
PhD Student
Zoelie Rivera-Ocasio, from Puerto Rico, is an environmentalist with her hands and feet on the ground, involved in promoting the importance of regenerative and cyclical agriculture. Founder and part of the board of directors of the organization Arte-Soil-Ser, whose mission is to integrate soil sciences in a transdisciplinary way, to investigate, educate, and disseminate on the importance of the soil resource, its relationship with ecosystem services and human well-being. She has worked in agricultural aspects for the third sector, governmental and academic entities. She is currently studying doctoral studies in Biogeochemistry and Soil Fertility and makes watercolors with soil at Zoils & Pigments.
Carrie Pickworth
NC State University
Associate Professor
Dr. Carrie Pickworth focuses on Ruminant Management and Nutrition. Her academic focus ranges from pre-college Livestock Science Camp to associate-level Animal Feeds and Nutrition, baccalaureate Beef Cattle Management, and graduate-level Applied Ruminant Nutrition. Her research program is diverse, supporting predominantly beef cattle and sheep nutrition and management projects. These include weaning stress, fescue toxicosis, and stocker cattle grazing cover crops.
NC State University
Associate Professor
Dr. Carrie Pickworth focuses on Ruminant Management and Nutrition. Her academic focus ranges from pre-college Livestock Science Camp to associate-level Animal Feeds and Nutrition, baccalaureate Beef Cattle Management, and graduate-level Applied Ruminant Nutrition. Her research program is diverse, supporting predominantly beef cattle and sheep nutrition and management projects. These include weaning stress, fescue toxicosis, and stocker cattle grazing cover crops.
Melissa Welsh
University of Maryland
Assistant Clinical Professor
Melissa has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Education in Youth and Family Education from The Pennsylvania State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Youth Development and Agricultural Education from Purdue University. She taught Family and Consumer Sciences in Pennsylvania for 12 years and continues to farm with her siblings in the laurel highlands area of Pennsylvania.
University of Maryland
Assistant Clinical Professor
Melissa has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Education in Youth and Family Education from The Pennsylvania State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Youth Development and Agricultural Education from Purdue University. She taught Family and Consumer Sciences in Pennsylvania for 12 years and continues to farm with her siblings in the laurel highlands area of Pennsylvania.
Michelle Schelske-Santos
USDA - National Institute of Food and Agriculture
National Program Leader
Michelle is a National Program Leader Biological Science Specialist for our undergraduate grant program portfolio that includes Higher Education Challenge (HEC), Multicultural Scholars (MSP), Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA), Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU, AFRI EWD), as well as the Food and Agricultural Education Information System (FAEIS) grant programs. Michelle received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Human Nutrition Sciences from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Boston, MA, and conducted research at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in the Nutrition Immunology Laboratory. She built upon her fascination with biological systems and her B.S. in Biology from Gordon College. Michelle comes to NIFA with many years of experience in academia at a Hispanic-Serving Institution with an emphasis on enriching teaching, learning and research in biochemical and nutrition sciences.
USDA - National Institute of Food and Agriculture
National Program Leader
Michelle is a National Program Leader Biological Science Specialist for our undergraduate grant program portfolio that includes Higher Education Challenge (HEC), Multicultural Scholars (MSP), Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA), Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU, AFRI EWD), as well as the Food and Agricultural Education Information System (FAEIS) grant programs. Michelle received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Human Nutrition Sciences from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Boston, MA, and conducted research at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in the Nutrition Immunology Laboratory. She built upon her fascination with biological systems and her B.S. in Biology from Gordon College. Michelle comes to NIFA with many years of experience in academia at a Hispanic-Serving Institution with an emphasis on enriching teaching, learning and research in biochemical and nutrition sciences.