2024-2025 CFAES Award Recipients

Abdoul Sam is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at The Ohio State University. As an applied economist, his research focuses on agricultural, environmental, and development challenges, studying effective ways to enhance farm productivity, manage production risk, improve rural livelihoods, and mitigate environmental impacts in the U.S. and internationally. His work has been published in leading economics and finance journals, and he has contributed to the field as an Associate Editor of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and as a member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Over his 19-year academic career, he has advised 21 doctoral students and served on 49 additional dissertation committees. For the past decade, he has been actively engaged in research and teaching across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Europe. He joined Ohio State University in 2005.

Jonathan M. Jacobs is an Associate Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease Ecology in the Department of Plant Pathology. His research in microbial ecology focuses on plant pathogens and diseases that limit crop production. His interdisciplinary team has made discoveries in how pathogens emerge to cause new outbreaks. His team works across scales from the molecular to the field and leverages partnerships with growers for real-time pathogen tracking. Jacobs is a two-time Fulbright Scholar and an American Phytopathological Society Hewitt awardee, and his program been funded by ODA, NSF, USDA, and DOE. He is motivated to train the next generation of scientists and was awarded the OSU Postdoctoral Faculty Mentor of the Year in 2024. His trainees push the boundaries of our understanding of emerging threats to agriculture and have been awarded prestigious fellowships from NSF and USDA. His group is now leading national efforts to use microbiome science for pathogen tracking.

Brian E. Roe, Ph.D., is the Van Buren Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics at The Ohio State University. Dr. Roe has worked broadly in the areas of agricultural and environmental economics focusing on issues including food waste, agricultural marketing, information policy, farm nutrient management, behavioral economics and product quality. Dr. Roe helped form and currently leads the Ohio State Food Waste Collaborative and co-directs an NSF-funded Research Network focused on addressing wasted food. He served as a committee member for the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine consensus study on “A Systems Approach to Reducing Consumer Food Waste” and as a member of the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research Advisory Council on Health-Agriculture Nexus. Roe was recently elected President of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and was named an AAEA fellow in 2022. Roe has a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland – College Park.

Mike has devoted 23 years of research at the Center for Food Animal Health exploring food safety risks involving human pathogens in our food chain. His research projects have included transmission of E. coli by European starlings; pathogen reduction in composted dairy free-stall bedding; pathogen education in domestic homes; and pathogen transmission within vegetable production systems. He has been the “point man” in collaborative projects with the FDA ($1.3 million funding) investigating food safety “gaps” in the federally mandated Food Safety Modernization Act. This effort facilitated on-farm testing of environmental risk factors affecting food safety of locally grown produce. His efforts enabled a unique connection between Ohio vegetable growers and the FDA. In 2019, he presented his research findings at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. Mike’s tireless effort, congenial personality, competence and willingness to help make him a “accruing asset” to CFAES and its vision, We Sustain Life.

Maria Sholola is a fifth year PhD candidate in the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) at Ohio State, where she uses chemistry, biology, and bioinformatics to investigate the absorption, metabolism, and health benefits of small molecules derived from tomatoes. Sholola's most recent publication about the discovery and quantification of tomato steroidal alkaloids has earned her the prestigious William E. Krauss Director’s Award for Outstanding Publication. She has presented other research at leading scientific conferences, including the Gordon Research Conference on Carotenoids. With prior experience in the pharmaceutical industry and a foundation in analytical chemistry, Shololaapplies multidisciplinary approaches to advance nutrition research. She actively contributes to science communication and mentorship, serving as current president of Citation Needed, an FST communication student organization. Through her work, she aims to bridge food science and health, leveraging dietary compounds to inform nutrition recommendations and improve public health outcomes.

Mary Gardiner is a Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State and co-director of the Ohio State Environmental Science Graduate Program. The Gardiner Lab’s community-engaged research program examines the ecology and management of urban greenspaces for insect conservation, including vacant lots, residential greenspaces, parks, and rain gardens. The Gardiner Lab has published over 75 peer-reviewed publications and has been awarded $8.1 million in grant support, with current funding from the NSF, USDA, and the MITRE Foundation. Gardiner is also a state specialist in Extension and is active in the Ohio Master Gardener Volunteer Program. She has advised 23 graduate students and postdocs and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in insect ecology, presentation skills, and grant writing. Gardiner serves on the Entomological Society of America Governing Board and is a past president of the ESA North Central Branch. 

Mitch Ploskonka is an assistant professor and English area coordinator at Ohio State ATI on the CFAES Wooster campus. He received his PhD from Michigan State University in 2021 and began teaching at Ohio State ATI in 2022. His research focuses on Southern literature, disability studies, and popular culture studies. Ploskonka grew up in a small tobacco-farming town in central Kentucky, an experience that shaped his commitment to student-centered, inclusive pedagogy. His teaching emphasizes critical thinking; practical applications of writing; and the intersections of literature, culture, and lived experience. Beginning in 2023, he developed and led an English bridge program designed to help students move out of developmental English and into first-year writing. He is passionate about helping students find their voice in academic and professional settings. 

After spending 23 years as a faculty member at CFAES Wooster, Laura Deeter is now a professor of professional practice in Horticulture and Crop Science, and the Sandy and Andy Ross Endowed Director of the Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens. With a BS and PhD in agriculture from Ohio State, she has dedicated her career to undergraduate horticulture education and research. Deeter teaches a variety of horticulture courses, from landscape design to sustainable landscaping. Her exceptional teaching has earned her multiple accolades, including the ATI Distinguished Teaching Award three times, the Ohio State Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Perennial Plant Association Teaching Award, the American Horticulture Society Teaching Award, the National Association of College Teachers of Agriculture Educator Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Landscape Association, and Professor of the Year from Instructure. Beyond the classroom, Deeter is deeply engaged in public outreach, offering expertise on plant identification and garden care. She is also a passionate advocate for horticultural education on social media, connecting with communities and sharing her knowledge. In her spare time, she enjoys board games, painting game miniatures, and 3D printing.

Jeffery Suchy earned his BS in 1998 and spent the next 11 years working in commercial construction project management. In 2009, he returned to Ohio State, where he began his dream teaching career and completed his master’s degree. Suchy teaches courses in both agricultural systems management and construction systems management. With his extensive industry experience, academic background, and passion for the construction and agricultural industries, he brings practical knowledge and expertise to the classroom, preparing students for successful careers in these fields. In addition to his teaching assignments Suchy is the faculty advisor for the CSM club, coaches student competition teams, serves as the internship coordinator for CSM, and has been a STEP mentor. He is passionate about teaching and is energized by student success.

Wendy Klooster is an associate professor of professional practice in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. She teaches several courses, including plant parenting, plant propagation, introductory and advanced horticulture, and ecology of agriculture. She also advises approximately 70 students in the sustainable plant systems horticulture and agroecology specializations and sustainable agriculture major and is the HCS honors advisor. In addition, she serves as the mentor for the Pi Alpha Xi Horticulture Honorary Society. In service to the department, she is chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, represents HCS on the college’s Global Education Advisory Committee, and is a member of the university-level Citizenship for a Diverse and Just World GE Theme Advisory Group. Her professional interests include forest ecology, food systems, and scholarship of teaching and learning. 

Seungki Lee is an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at Ohio State. He earned his PhD in economics from Iowa State University in 2021 and joined Ohio State afterward. As an agricultural economist, Lee studies markets and policies in the agricultural sector, focusing on innovation, technology adoption, and supply chain issues. Originally from South Korea, he comes from a family of apple growers, which shaped his interest in sustainable farm businesses. Lee’s teaching and OSU Extension efforts center on agricultural marketing and risk management. He teaches grain merchandising for undergraduates and has provided grain marketing education to Ohio farmers. He also shares market outlooks through various platforms, including his original program, Coffee & Grain Marketing with Dr. Lee.

Laura Lindsey is a professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, with a 75% OSU Extension and a 25% research appointment. She leads research and OSU Extension efforts in soybean and small grain crop production with a focus on maximizing crop yield while maintaining both economic and environmental sustainability. Lindsey’s research and OSU Extension programs are highly integrated, with research questions often stemming from conversations with farmers.

For the past five years, Rachel Cochran has served as a water quality Extension associate with OSU Extension, working across Paulding, Defiance, and Van Wert counties. She is a Certified Crop Adviser and a certified professional agronomist. Cochran earned her bachelor’s in sustainable agriculture from the University of Kentucky and her master’s in plant health management from Ohio State. Her expertise centers on nutrient management, soil health, and in-field conservation practices, including cover crops and subsurface fertilizer placement. Cochran collaborates with farmers and landowners in the Western Lake Erie Basin, leading research and educational efforts to support the adoption of conservation practices aimed at enhancing water quality and soil health.

Shannon Carter is an assistant professor and area leader with Ohio State. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State in family relations and human development. A third-generation OSU Extension educator in family and consumer sciences, Carter is passionate about helping others live smart by using research-based information to better their lives, families, and communities. As an area leader, Carter enjoys helping staff achieve their aspirations and goals. Her greatest impact in OSU Extension has been bringing out the best in others. Her greatest impact in life has been, along with her husband, raising two amazing children into even more wonderful young adults. She is proud to be part of the nationwide network of Extension professionals that bring sthe best of themselves so their audiences have the knowledge and resources they need to actively engage in creating conditions in which they thrive.

The eFields team aims to enhance both the quantity and quality of farmer-participatory on-farm research in Ohio. The team brings together a diverse group of stakeholders and researchers with the mission to drive innovation and solve local production challenges. On average, the team engages 90 farms, 60 Ohio State contributors, and 50 industry partners annually. Ohio State contributors have spanned the college, bringing together researchers from the Departments of Extension, FABE, HCS, SENR, AEDE, Plant Pathology, Animal Science, and Entomology. Since 2017, the eFields team has conducted 1,174 trials in 68 Ohio counties. The work of the eFields team has changed the way Ohio farmers use data to drive decisions in their operations. Recent survey results indicated 47% of responding farmers have altered their production practices, and 27% have invested in new or improved technology due to the research insights gained from eFields.

Joshua Blakeslee is an associate professor of plant biochemistry in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. His areas of expertise include plant hormone and membrane biochemistry, with a focus on abiotic stress responses and metabolic engineering. His lab investigates phytohormone transport and metabolism, membrane and lipid signaling, and the development of tools to quantify and ameliorate herbicide and pesticide drift events. Blakeslee’s research also explores membrane-bound multiprotein complexes in the metabolism/production of terpenoid compounds, including sterols/steroids, biofuels, bioactive medicinal poly-terpenoids, and, as the Thrust 1: BioEngineering research team leader of the NSF-TARDISS Engineering Research Center, rubber molecules. His goal — rooted in a childhood aspiration to leverage science for societal benefit — is to develop plants into biofactors to reduce industrial pharmaceutical costs while reducing negative environmental impacts.

Lee Wilson is fortunate to have grown up in Columbus, not far from Woody Hayes’ home, and within earshot of the Ohio State Marching Band on game days. Ohio State is his alma mater for both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and has been the home base for his career for over 40 years in the Department of Plant Pathology. During Wilson's career, he has worked in fruit disease epidemiology research. It has been Wilson's pleasure serving the university in many ways, currently as a laboratory research operations senior analyst. Beyond this, he has served for 21 years on the CFAES weather station committee, 19 of those as coordinator. Wilson has been Selby Hall’s safety coordinator for the past 20 years and has served on the University Laboratory Safety Committee for 11 years. It has been Wilson’s pleasure working with all his colleagues, including faculty, staff, and graduate students, and he is humbled by, and thankful for, this award.

Carly Becker has been the program coordinator for the Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center at Ohio State since November 2021, working under director Chieri Kubota. She manages communications, media, events, and stakeholder relations, fostering collaboration among consortium members, faculty, and industry leaders to advance controlled environment agriculture together. Becker is one of the co-founders of "We Grow Scientists," alongside Bri Schneider and Jamie Gothard. As part of the COSI Science Festival, this free, hands-on STEAM community event introduces learners of all ages to the diverse fields within CFAES. In addition to her primary role, Becker supports multistate research and OSU Extension collaborations, including SCRI-Grant groups, OptimIA and ADVANCEA. A proud 2015 Ohio State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communications, Becker previously worked in the Fisher College of Business’ Department of Operations and Business Analytics.

Carrie Elvey grew up in Holmes County, coming home with her pockets full of snakes and bugs, playing in the creek, and exploring the woods. She never outgrew this. Today, she is most passionate about reconnecting adults to the amazing natural history stories happening in their own backyards. In her capacity with the United Titanium Bug Zoo, Elvey is looking forward to incorporating the knowledge and research findings of the CFAES staff, students, and faculty into outreach programming to help tell those stories.

Erika Lyon is an agriculture and natural resources (ANR) educator for OSU Extension in Jefferson and Harrison counties. She began her career in 2012 with the Mahaska and Wapello County Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Iowa. Lyon then pursued graduate studies in ecology and environmental sciences at the University of Maine, focusing on plant pathology. In 2016, she joined OSU Extension, where she and her colleagues in neighboring counties developed various programs tailored to local needs, covering diagnostics, specialty crops, farm management, energy production, and natural resources. Lyon also transitioned several curricula to online platforms, including Pastures for Profit, Forages for Horses, Woodland Health Practices for Service Providers, and the Master Gardener Volunteer training. Additionally, she collaborated with fellow ANR educator Greg Meyer to develop an orientation program aimed at training new ANR educators on essential topics in the field.

Eric Hamilton is a human resources consultant who supports a variety of departments and support units within CFAES. He began his human resources professional career in June 2008 after graduating from Ohio State with a bachelor’s in sports management. His previous stops at the university include the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the College of Education and Human Ecology, before joining CFAES in September 2017. Hamilton approaches every interaction by offering excellent customer service through partnership with clients to provide thoughtful solutions to simple and complex scenarios through alignment of cross-discipline matters that meet business needs and inform strategic decisions. Hamilton prides himself on emphasizing the “human” in human resources by giving extra care and attention to employee needs in a way that lets them know that they matter and their needs are important.

Haven Hileman is a senior studying animal sciences with a minor in agricultural communications. She has worked as a student assistant for Ohio 4-H youth development for three years while attending Ohio State. She is from Stout, Ohio, where she got her start in agriculture through organizations like 4-H, FFA, and Farm Bureau. Hileman is the president of Collegiate 4-H, a member of Alpha Sigma Upsilon, and a member of the CFAES Ambassador Team. Upon graduation, she will be attending graduate school at Ohio State to pursue her master's in agriculture education.

Adrianna Meyer is a second-year student at Ohio State ATI, where she will obtain associate degrees in community leadership, agribusiness, and agricultural communications this spring. In the fall, she will be attending the Columbus campus, where she will pursue her bachelor’s in community leadership, with a specialization in Extension education. Adrianna is from Swanton, Ohio, and became extremely involved in agriculture through her small family farm, 4-H, and FFA. On the CFAES Wooster campus, Adrianna is a student ambassador, residential advisor, and involved in the following organizations: Agricultural Communicators, Educators, and Leaders of Tomorrow; Agricultural Systems Management Club; and the Second Year Transformational Experience Program. Meyer plans to pursue a career in Extension education, specifically in 4-H youth development, upon her graduation from Ohio State. 

As a CFAES alum, Katie Share, from Franklin County, has been working with college students and youth for the last eight years. She currently works with the Ohio State Collegiate Farm Bureau to connect them with Farm Bureau leadership and events; support them in their chapter-specific and community events; and serves as a resource for their chapter needs. She is dedicated to serving the next generation of agricultural leaders and supporting them in their personal and professional journeys.

Mariette Benage is the recruitment and student development manager for the Department of Animal Sciences. In this role, she manages the recruitment efforts in the department; teaches ANIM SCI 1100 and 2700 as well as the "University Bookend" courses; advises 55-plus students; assists students in in all aspects of career development from finding internships to writing personal statements for vet school; advises the Animal Science Community Alliance; oversees a Columbus community biweekly high school science outreach program; coordinates the Buckeyes In Your Corner program, which includes events like the ANSCI Student-Faculty Mixer; and leads the planning and implementation efforts for the CFAES Back2School Bash. Benage also serves on multiple committees across the University to support student recruitment, development, and success.

Mary Gardiner is a Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State and co-director of the Ohio State Environmental Science Graduate Program. The Gardiner Lab’s community-engaged research program examines the ecology and management of urban greenspaces for insect conservation, including vacant lots, residential greenspaces, parks, and rain gardens. The Gardiner Lab has published over 75 peer-reviewed publications and has been awarded $8.1 million in grant support, with current funding from the NSF, USDA, and the MITRE Foundation. Gardiner is also a state specialist in Extension and is active in the Ohio Master Gardener Volunteer Program. She has advised 23 graduate students and postdocs and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in insect ecology, presentation skills, and grant writing. Gardiner serves on the Entomological Society of America Governing Board and is a past president of the ESA North Central Branch.

Professor Osvaldo H. Campanella is an internationally renowned scientist and professor and the Carl E. Haas endowed chair in the Department of Food Science and Technology at Ohio State University, where he has been since 2019. His research focuses on advancing food processing techniques, including the study of food structure, texture, and the development of innovative methods to improve food quality and food production efficiency. He has published over 260 peer-reviewed articles and authored two books on topics related to those areas. Professor Campanella has made significant contributions to food engineering, science, and technology, fostering collaborations across Asia, Europe, and Latin America to promote international exchanges on global food issues. Professor Campanella has received numerous awards for his research and teaching throughout his career. Notable accolades include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association for Engineering and Food (IAEF) in 2019, the Distinguished International Research Award from Ohio University in 2023, and being named a Fellow of the International Association for Food Science and Technology (IAFoST) in 2024. He has also earned multiple Best Engineering Teacher Awards at Purdue University and the Spotlight Educator Award from the College of Agriculture. In recognition of his teaching and mentorship, the Food Science Club at Ohio State University in 2024 honored him with the Professor of the Year award, which reflects his commitment to impactful educational experiences and fostering the next generation of food scientists.

Ani Katchova is Professor and Farm Income Enhancement Endowed Chair in Agricultural Policy, Trade, and Marketing in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at Ohio State. She chairs the Farm Income Enhancement program and conducts research and outreach on U.S. agricultural economics issues. Her recent research on farm income forecasts and baseline projections have been in collaboration with and supported by the USDA. Her research has been published in leading journals such as the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and she is an associate editor for the Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural Finance Review, and Agribusiness. She has received two Outstanding Research Awards and one Publication of Lasting Impact Award from a section of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. She teaches courses in agribusiness finance and applied econometrics. Her research-based outreach program focuses on farm income and finance and farmland loss and preservation. She holds a PhD from Ohio State.