Get to Know our New CFAES Faculty!
We're pleased to welcome the following new faculty to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences! Some are new to CFAES in 2022 and others are transitioning to faculty roles after years with the college, but we're lucky to have each of them, so we hope you'll take a few minutes to get to know them!
Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership
My primary research focus concerns the media’s role as an influence on public perceptions of complex issues facing rural society. The context for my research has varied from the rural health issues such as the opioid epidemic and food insecurity, to topics regarding natural disaster communication with focus on wildfires and other extreme weather events. At the same time, I seek to integrate my teaching endeavors with my research program. As I continue to grow as a writing instructor, I hope to continue exploring student perceptions of writing to improve the quality of writing from our graduates, and to inform future curriculum through the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Hometown: Ripley, Ohio
Previous Academic Institution(s):
Oregon State University
PhD, Texas Tech University
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
I have a terrible sense of direction, but a great sense of smell.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy canning and really love creating flavors from tomatoes, peaches, and strawberries.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
2021 Journal of Applied Communications Article of the Year
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I chose to join the CFAES faculty to work with some of the best students, faculty, and staff in the United States. I’m an alum, and so excited to be home.
My primary research focus concerns the media’s role as an influence on public perceptions of complex issues facing rural society. The context for my research has varied from the rural health issues such as the opioid epidemic and food insecurity, to topics regarding natural disaster communication with focus on wildfires and other extreme weather events. At the same time, I seek to integrate my teaching endeavors with my research program. As I continue to grow as a writing instructor, I hope to continue exploring student perceptions of writing to improve the quality of writing from our graduates, and to inform future curriculum through the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Hometown: Ripley, Ohio
Previous Academic Institution(s):
Oregon State University
PhD, Texas Tech University
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
I have a terrible sense of direction, but a great sense of smell.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy canning and really love creating flavors from tomatoes, peaches, and strawberries.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
2021 Journal of Applied Communications Article of the Year
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I chose to join the CFAES faculty to work with some of the best students, faculty, and staff in the United States. I’m an alum, and so excited to be home.
Agricultural, Environmental and Development
Yao Wang received her PhD in economics from Syracuse University. She specializes in urban economics and also has interests in international trade and development economics. Wang's current research focuses on the impact of public transit on congestion an pollution, and how housing discrimintion and the suburbanization of jobs may impact the unemployment rate in certain underrepresented communities. She previously studied how urban sprawl impacts social capital in Indonesia.
Yao Wang received her PhD in economics from Syracuse University. She specializes in urban economics and also has interests in international trade and development economics. Wang's current research focuses on the impact of public transit on congestion an pollution, and how housing discrimintion and the suburbanization of jobs may impact the unemployment rate in certain underrepresented communities. She previously studied how urban sprawl impacts social capital in Indonesia.
Animal Sciences
Throughout my studies, I have always been passionate about animal health, welfare, and public health. I have also been very interested in sustainable development, considering our society’s well-being and needs, economic prosperity, and preserving nature. Poultry health and production is very dynamic, global, and integrates different areas – that is why I decided to work in this field. I love learning, sharing what I have learned, and working towards applying that to practical situations. My plan for my current position at the Ohio State University as Poultry Health Extension Specialist is to keep learning and teaching, not just in a classroom, but in farms, hatcheries, etc., with farmers and industry professionals. I want to understand the farmers’ and the industry’s needs and bring research to assist them with potential challenges and opportunities for improvement. I want to collaborate in improving the resilience of poultry production in Ohio, from commercial to backyard producers, assisting them to be ready to answer and adapt to future challenges, including infectious diseases, demands from our society, and climate change. I also look forward to collaborating with other professors and researchers to bring real solutions to our farmers.
Hometown:
Lucélia, São Paulo, Brazil
Previous Academic Institution(s):
I completed a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine in Brazil at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in 2014 and a Master’s in Animal Science at the same institution in 2017. In 2018, I started a Ph.D. in Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas, which I have recently completed.
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
My name is an indigenous name originated from the Tupi Guarani language in Brazil. It means “star”.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I love swimming, being around nature, cooking, reading, and being with my family.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
During my Ph.D., I got recognition as an outstanding Ph.D. student in the Department of Poultry Science.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
CFAES has a very diverse group of professors and researchers, working with topics crucial to our society. This brings a lot of opportunities to collaborate, and I truly believe that the integration of different research areas and expertise will be essential to bringing solutions to our world.
Throughout my studies, I have always been passionate about animal health, welfare, and public health. I have also been very interested in sustainable development, considering our society’s well-being and needs, economic prosperity, and preserving nature. Poultry health and production is very dynamic, global, and integrates different areas – that is why I decided to work in this field. I love learning, sharing what I have learned, and working towards applying that to practical situations. My plan for my current position at the Ohio State University as Poultry Health Extension Specialist is to keep learning and teaching, not just in a classroom, but in farms, hatcheries, etc., with farmers and industry professionals. I want to understand the farmers’ and the industry’s needs and bring research to assist them with potential challenges and opportunities for improvement. I want to collaborate in improving the resilience of poultry production in Ohio, from commercial to backyard producers, assisting them to be ready to answer and adapt to future challenges, including infectious diseases, demands from our society, and climate change. I also look forward to collaborating with other professors and researchers to bring real solutions to our farmers.
Hometown:
Lucélia, São Paulo, Brazil
Previous Academic Institution(s):
I completed a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine in Brazil at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in 2014 and a Master’s in Animal Science at the same institution in 2017. In 2018, I started a Ph.D. in Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas, which I have recently completed.
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
My name is an indigenous name originated from the Tupi Guarani language in Brazil. It means “star”.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I love swimming, being around nature, cooking, reading, and being with my family.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
During my Ph.D., I got recognition as an outstanding Ph.D. student in the Department of Poultry Science.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
CFAES has a very diverse group of professors and researchers, working with topics crucial to our society. This brings a lot of opportunities to collaborate, and I truly believe that the integration of different research areas and expertise will be essential to bringing solutions to our world.
Entomology
Kayla received her Ph.D. in Entomology from the Ohio State University in December 2016. She had several postdoctoral research experiences, including a USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship, and most recently was a postdoctoral research associate at Kent State University. Her research aims to gain a mechanistic understanding of the drivers that structure and maintain insect communities in natural and managed forests with a focus on the role of disturbance. Natural disturbances such as fire, wind, and insect outbreaks are integral components of ecosystems, but anthropogenic disturbances such as exotic species, habitat degradation, and climate change may alter the resistance and/or resilience of forest ecosystems to future perturbations, ultimately impacting forest health and management. Kayla’s previous research has focused on disturbances caused by emerald ash borer, windstorms, salvage logging, and urbanization. She has extensive experience working with ground‐ and soil‐dwelling insect communities and is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) expert. Her teaching interests include insect ecology, invasion ecology, forest entomology, and ecological modeling. Kayla enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and building Eurorack synthesizer modules for Midiverse Modular. Occasionally, she teaches soldering/DIY synthesizer module build workshops at MOD‐squad Studio in Columbus.
Kayla received her Ph.D. in Entomology from the Ohio State University in December 2016. She had several postdoctoral research experiences, including a USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship, and most recently was a postdoctoral research associate at Kent State University. Her research aims to gain a mechanistic understanding of the drivers that structure and maintain insect communities in natural and managed forests with a focus on the role of disturbance. Natural disturbances such as fire, wind, and insect outbreaks are integral components of ecosystems, but anthropogenic disturbances such as exotic species, habitat degradation, and climate change may alter the resistance and/or resilience of forest ecosystems to future perturbations, ultimately impacting forest health and management. Kayla’s previous research has focused on disturbances caused by emerald ash borer, windstorms, salvage logging, and urbanization. She has extensive experience working with ground‐ and soil‐dwelling insect communities and is a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) expert. Her teaching interests include insect ecology, invasion ecology, forest entomology, and ecological modeling. Kayla enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and building Eurorack synthesizer modules for Midiverse Modular. Occasionally, she teaches soldering/DIY synthesizer module build workshops at MOD‐squad Studio in Columbus.
Extension
Dr. Nicole Arnold is an incoming Assistant Professor and Food Safety Field Specialist at The Ohio State University with a split appointment between Ohio State University Extension and the Department of Food Science and Technology. She obtained her BS and MS degrees at North Carolina State University where she began working with food entrepreneurs to ensure the safety of their foods before sale. At Virginia Tech, she completed her PhD in Food Science with a focus on food technology perceptions amongst consumers and Extension personnel. Also at Virginia Tech, she obtained a graduate teaching certificate in adult education. She has spent the past three years as the Food Scientist on staff within a Nutrition Science Department with a research and teaching split. She also supported the Department of Public Health at East Carolina University as an Adjunct Assistant Professor. Her research aims to assess the current landscape of various food-based activities in practice to make recommendations for more effective food policies and educational initiatives. She primarily focuses on applied food safety, food safety education and interventions, and risk communication - for consumer and food handler populations. Through her Extension programming and resources, she disseminates food safety information about various topics (e.g., food processing and preservation, food recalls, food policies) to different stakeholders.
Hometown:
Raleigh, North Carolina
Previous Academic Institution(s):
BS and MS in Food Science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC
PhD in Food Science from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA
I have spent the past 3 years as an Assistant Professor in a Nutrition Science Department and Adjunct Assistant Professor in a Public Health Department at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
I still have a baby tooth.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
I have previously amended the FDA Model Food Code regarding mechanically tenderized and non‐intact beef products.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I am overjoyed to be back at a Land‐Grant University and fully immersed in Extension work.
I am currently a Field Specialist in Agronomic Systems and Assistant Professor in the Department of Extension. Prior to this role, I was an Agriculture and Natural Resources OSU Extension Educator for three years in Williams County. I am an Ohio State alumnus and was a student in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science for my bachelor’s degree and earned my Ph.D. in the Translational Plant Sciences Graduate Program, housed in the Center for Applied Plant Sciences. During graduate school, I was advised by Dr. Leah McHale of the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and Dr. Anne Dorrance of the Department of Plant Pathology. My dissertation focused on phenotypic and genotypic characterization of a new source of resistance to the soybean disease Phytophthora root and stem rot. In my new role, I am responsible for developing an applied research and outreach program to address the needs of Ohio corn, soybean, wheat, and forage producers. My research and extension interests include integrated pest management, nutrient management, and crop management. I also co-lead the OSU Extension Agronomic Crops Team. I currently live in Pandora, Ohio with my husband and son, where we are actively involved on the family grain farm.
Hometown:
Kalida, Ohio
Previous Academic Institution(s):
I received my B.S. in Agriculture and Ph.D. in Translational Plant Sciences from The Ohio State University.
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
If it wasn’t for OSU Extension, I wouldn’t have met my husband! We first met as 4-H members on our county’s Junior Fair Board.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy reading fiction books, gardening, POUND exercise class, and spending time with family and friends.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
I recently placed first in the applied research poster contest at the National Association of Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting & Professional Improvement Conference.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I chose to join the CFAES faculty, because of the people. No matter what role I have held in CFAES, I have been surrounded by supportive team members that have driven me to do my best work.
Dr. Aaron Wilson is an Atmospheric Scientist with a passion for understanding and communicating about weather and climate. As a collaborating member of the Byrd Polar & Climate Research Center, State Climate Office of Ohio, and Extension Liaison with the USDA Midwest Climate Hub, Aaron believes building strong relationships and collaborations that help meet the goals of our land grant universities and partners across the region. As a nearly life-long Ohioan, he was inspired from a young age by the power of weather and has followed his passion with a deep commitment the Midwest. Aaron has a diverse research background, from using state-of-the-art numerical models to solve weather- and climate-related research questions, to applied climatology and climate variability of Ohio and the Midwest. Aaron strives to help the agricultural, natural resources, and many other communities across Ohio understand the impacts of climate change and how to build resilience to its challenges. By engaging in an open dialog on the science of climate change, we can bridge our expertise with the mission to improve decision making and effective adaptation to future climate impacts.
Weather and climate touch so much of what Extension and CFAES are all about. Although he has enjoyed a split appointment with OSU Extension for the last five years, Aaron is excited to join Extension full-time to continue to foster the relationships throughout the state, expand climate services to meet the needs of the agronomics crops team, enhance curriculum and programs on building on-farm climate resilience, and improve weather and climate observations across the state that align with research and extension commitments.
Hometown: Miamisburg, Ohio
Previous Academic Institution(s):
BS, MS, and PhD all from OSU
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy cooking and fishing.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
Lead author for the Midwest Chapter of the Fifth National Climate Assessment
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
What better way to help advance the mission of this land grant university than by joining CFAES, exemplified in the commitment to students and citizens of Ohio and beyond.
Dr. Nicole Arnold is an incoming Assistant Professor and Food Safety Field Specialist at The Ohio State University with a split appointment between Ohio State University Extension and the Department of Food Science and Technology. She obtained her BS and MS degrees at North Carolina State University where she began working with food entrepreneurs to ensure the safety of their foods before sale. At Virginia Tech, she completed her PhD in Food Science with a focus on food technology perceptions amongst consumers and Extension personnel. Also at Virginia Tech, she obtained a graduate teaching certificate in adult education. She has spent the past three years as the Food Scientist on staff within a Nutrition Science Department with a research and teaching split. She also supported the Department of Public Health at East Carolina University as an Adjunct Assistant Professor. Her research aims to assess the current landscape of various food-based activities in practice to make recommendations for more effective food policies and educational initiatives. She primarily focuses on applied food safety, food safety education and interventions, and risk communication - for consumer and food handler populations. Through her Extension programming and resources, she disseminates food safety information about various topics (e.g., food processing and preservation, food recalls, food policies) to different stakeholders.
Hometown:
Raleigh, North Carolina
Previous Academic Institution(s):
BS and MS in Food Science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC
PhD in Food Science from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA
I have spent the past 3 years as an Assistant Professor in a Nutrition Science Department and Adjunct Assistant Professor in a Public Health Department at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
I still have a baby tooth.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
I have previously amended the FDA Model Food Code regarding mechanically tenderized and non‐intact beef products.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I am overjoyed to be back at a Land‐Grant University and fully immersed in Extension work.
I am currently a Field Specialist in Agronomic Systems and Assistant Professor in the Department of Extension. Prior to this role, I was an Agriculture and Natural Resources OSU Extension Educator for three years in Williams County. I am an Ohio State alumnus and was a student in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science for my bachelor’s degree and earned my Ph.D. in the Translational Plant Sciences Graduate Program, housed in the Center for Applied Plant Sciences. During graduate school, I was advised by Dr. Leah McHale of the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and Dr. Anne Dorrance of the Department of Plant Pathology. My dissertation focused on phenotypic and genotypic characterization of a new source of resistance to the soybean disease Phytophthora root and stem rot. In my new role, I am responsible for developing an applied research and outreach program to address the needs of Ohio corn, soybean, wheat, and forage producers. My research and extension interests include integrated pest management, nutrient management, and crop management. I also co-lead the OSU Extension Agronomic Crops Team. I currently live in Pandora, Ohio with my husband and son, where we are actively involved on the family grain farm.
Hometown:
Kalida, Ohio
Previous Academic Institution(s):
I received my B.S. in Agriculture and Ph.D. in Translational Plant Sciences from The Ohio State University.
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
If it wasn’t for OSU Extension, I wouldn’t have met my husband! We first met as 4-H members on our county’s Junior Fair Board.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy reading fiction books, gardening, POUND exercise class, and spending time with family and friends.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
I recently placed first in the applied research poster contest at the National Association of Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting & Professional Improvement Conference.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I chose to join the CFAES faculty, because of the people. No matter what role I have held in CFAES, I have been surrounded by supportive team members that have driven me to do my best work.
Dr. Aaron Wilson is an Atmospheric Scientist with a passion for understanding and communicating about weather and climate. As a collaborating member of the Byrd Polar & Climate Research Center, State Climate Office of Ohio, and Extension Liaison with the USDA Midwest Climate Hub, Aaron believes building strong relationships and collaborations that help meet the goals of our land grant universities and partners across the region. As a nearly life-long Ohioan, he was inspired from a young age by the power of weather and has followed his passion with a deep commitment the Midwest. Aaron has a diverse research background, from using state-of-the-art numerical models to solve weather- and climate-related research questions, to applied climatology and climate variability of Ohio and the Midwest. Aaron strives to help the agricultural, natural resources, and many other communities across Ohio understand the impacts of climate change and how to build resilience to its challenges. By engaging in an open dialog on the science of climate change, we can bridge our expertise with the mission to improve decision making and effective adaptation to future climate impacts.
Weather and climate touch so much of what Extension and CFAES are all about. Although he has enjoyed a split appointment with OSU Extension for the last five years, Aaron is excited to join Extension full-time to continue to foster the relationships throughout the state, expand climate services to meet the needs of the agronomics crops team, enhance curriculum and programs on building on-farm climate resilience, and improve weather and climate observations across the state that align with research and extension commitments.
Hometown: Miamisburg, Ohio
Previous Academic Institution(s):
BS, MS, and PhD all from OSU
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy cooking and fishing.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
Lead author for the Midwest Chapter of the Fifth National Climate Assessment
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
What better way to help advance the mission of this land grant university than by joining CFAES, exemplified in the commitment to students and citizens of Ohio and beyond.
Dr. Aaron Wilson is an Atmospheric Scientist with a passion for understanding and communicating about weather and climate. As a collaborating member of the Byrd Polar & Climate Research Center, State Climate Office of Ohio, and Extension Liaison with the USDA Midwest Climate Hub, Aaron believes building strong relationships and collaborations that help meet the goals of our land grant universities and partners across the region. As a nearly life-long Ohioan, he was inspired from a young age by the power of weather and has followed his passion with a deep commitment the Midwest. Aaron has a diverse research background, from using state-of-the-art numerical models to solve weather- and climate-related research questions, to applied climatology and climate variability of Ohio and the Midwest. Aaron strives to help the agricultural, natural resources, and many other communities across Ohio understand the impacts of climate change and how to build resilience to its challenges. By engaging in an open dialog on the science of climate change, we can bridge our expertise with the mission to improve decision making and effective adaptation to future climate impacts.
Weather and climate touch so much of what Extension and CFAES are all about. Although he has enjoyed a split appointment with OSU Extension for the last five years, Aaron is excited to join Extension full-time to continue to foster the relationships throughout the state, expand climate services to meet the needs of the agronomics crops team, enhance curriculum and programs on building on-farm climate resilience, and improve weather and climate observations across the state that align with research and extension commitments.
Hometown: Miamisburg, Ohio
Previous Academic Institution(s):
BS, MS, and PhD all from OSU
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy cooking and fishing.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
Lead author for the Midwest Chapter of the Fifth National Climate Assessment
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
What better way to help advance the mission of this land grant university than by joining CFAES, exemplified in the commitment to students and citizens of Ohio and beyond.
Horticulture and Crop Science
Alyssa Essman is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the department of Horticulture and Crop Science. She received her B.S. degree in Agribusiness and Applied Economics from The Ohio State University in 2015. She obtained her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Horticulture and Crop Science with a specialization in weed science from The Ohio State University in 2018 and 2022, respectively. As a weed scientist, she seeks to better understand the role of integrated pest management strategies in agronomic cropping systems. Specific interests include the use of cover crops for weed management and the various impacts of herbicide‐resistant weeds. Recent research has focused on cover crop management factors and their influence on weed populations. This work informs her extension activities, which aim to provide growers with current recommendations through various outputs. Teaching activities include the instruction of HCS 5422, Biology and Management of Weeds and Invasive Plants. She is also working to develop a new class which will focus on how herbicides interfere with plant growth and their use in various cropping systems.
Hometown:
Circleville, Ohio,
Previous Academic Institution(s):
I obtained my PhD at The Ohio State University in the department of Horticulture and Crop Science
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
My go‐to fun fact is that my maiden name is Lamb and I grew up on a lamb and row crop farm.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
In my free time I enjoy being outdoors, especially hiking and gardening. I also enjoy reading and spending time with my friends, family, and dog.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
A recent professional accomplishment of which I am proud is being invited to serve as a co‐host for a podcast with other weed scientists across the US.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I’m very grateful for the opportunity to continue working at this institution as a CFAES faculty member. I really enjoy working with undergraduate students in the lab and in class, and I’m excited to continue doing so as a lecturer and researcher. The state support within Ohio for extension is second to none, and I’m proud to join this strong network of educators.
Alyssa Essman is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the department of Horticulture and Crop Science. She received her B.S. degree in Agribusiness and Applied Economics from The Ohio State University in 2015. She obtained her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Horticulture and Crop Science with a specialization in weed science from The Ohio State University in 2018 and 2022, respectively. As a weed scientist, she seeks to better understand the role of integrated pest management strategies in agronomic cropping systems. Specific interests include the use of cover crops for weed management and the various impacts of herbicide‐resistant weeds. Recent research has focused on cover crop management factors and their influence on weed populations. This work informs her extension activities, which aim to provide growers with current recommendations through various outputs. Teaching activities include the instruction of HCS 5422, Biology and Management of Weeds and Invasive Plants. She is also working to develop a new class which will focus on how herbicides interfere with plant growth and their use in various cropping systems.
Hometown:
Circleville, Ohio,
Previous Academic Institution(s):
I obtained my PhD at The Ohio State University in the department of Horticulture and Crop Science
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
My go‐to fun fact is that my maiden name is Lamb and I grew up on a lamb and row crop farm.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
In my free time I enjoy being outdoors, especially hiking and gardening. I also enjoy reading and spending time with my friends, family, and dog.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
A recent professional accomplishment of which I am proud is being invited to serve as a co‐host for a podcast with other weed scientists across the US.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I’m very grateful for the opportunity to continue working at this institution as a CFAES faculty member. I really enjoy working with undergraduate students in the lab and in class, and I’m excited to continue doing so as a lecturer and researcher. The state support within Ohio for extension is second to none, and I’m proud to join this strong network of educators.
OSU Agricultural Technical Institute
Mitch Ploskonka comes from a small tobacco-farming town in central Kentucky. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, his Master’s degree from the University of Akron, and his PhD from Michigan State University. He has previously taught at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, OH. His research focuses on focuses on Southern literature, disability studies, and popular culture studies. His work can be found in journals like Mississippi Quarterly, Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction, The Selected Papers of the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference, The Cormac McCarthy Journal, The Popular Culture Studies Journal, books like The Hallmark Channel: Essays on Faith, Race and Feminism, and his upcoming co-edited collection Attack of the New B Movies: Essays on SYFY Original Films. As a teacher, Mitch promotes student-centered, inclusive pedagogy that teaches to the individual, putting at the forefront their interests, needs, and futures.
Previous Academic Institution(s):
Undergraduate degree from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, his Master’s degree from the University of Akron, and his PhD from Michigan State University.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
Fishing, gardening, construction finishing work, horror films, and, of course, reading
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
He and his wife have two sons, ages three and five, as well as two bulldogs, a black lab, and a cat.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
CFAES is an ideal match with my background in an agricultural community, teaching experience, and research in regional, rural, and blue-collar studies.
Mitch Ploskonka comes from a small tobacco-farming town in central Kentucky. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, his Master’s degree from the University of Akron, and his PhD from Michigan State University. He has previously taught at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, OH. His research focuses on focuses on Southern literature, disability studies, and popular culture studies. His work can be found in journals like Mississippi Quarterly, Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction, The Selected Papers of the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference, The Cormac McCarthy Journal, The Popular Culture Studies Journal, books like The Hallmark Channel: Essays on Faith, Race and Feminism, and his upcoming co-edited collection Attack of the New B Movies: Essays on SYFY Original Films. As a teacher, Mitch promotes student-centered, inclusive pedagogy that teaches to the individual, putting at the forefront their interests, needs, and futures.
Previous Academic Institution(s):
Undergraduate degree from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, his Master’s degree from the University of Akron, and his PhD from Michigan State University.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
Fishing, gardening, construction finishing work, horror films, and, of course, reading
Can you share a fun fact or something most people don't know about you?
He and his wife have two sons, ages three and five, as well as two bulldogs, a black lab, and a cat.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
CFAES is an ideal match with my background in an agricultural community, teaching experience, and research in regional, rural, and blue-collar studies.
School of Environment and Natural Resources
I research how experiences across home, school, and informal spaces, such as parks, support environmental interest and identity development. I work collaboratively with educators, learners, and community members to explore urban greenspaces as valuable sites for learning, advocacy, and stewardship and to foster relationships between human and more‐than‐human beings in support of multispecies justice. My approach is interdisciplinary, weaving together environmental education, community‐based ecological design, learning sciences, and naturalist practices. My teaching practice also draws on these disciplines and is structured to strengthen student motivation through a focus on learner interest.
I received a PhD in Learning Sciences and Policy from the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in Botany from the Field Naturalist program at the University of Vermont. Most recently I was Assistant Professor of Recreation Parks and Tourism Management at Penn State Greater Allegheny. I also worked in Pittsburgh, PA parks for 14 years where I spearheaded two major projects – advocating for the Nine Mile Run aquatic ecosystem restoration, one of the largest urban stream restorations in the U.S., and managing the design and construction of the Frick Environmental Center, a public education and welcome center that is net‐zero water and energy and is LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certified. As the Director of Education for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, I led the organization in successfully expanding and diversifying participation in parks‐based science education in partnership with local K‐12 educators.
Hometown:
Grew up in New York City, NY
Previous Academic Institution(s):
PhD from University of Pittsburgh School of Education; MS in Botany from University of Vermont.
Most recently an Assistant Professor of Recreation Park and Tourism Management at Penn State Greater Allegheny
(more in bio)
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I love baking, especially making pies.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
In 2020 I won the Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Education Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I am so excited to be joining CFAES and the School of Environment and Natural Resources so that I can continue to work across natural and social sciences to help develop the next generation of environmental education leaders.
Dr. Leonardo Deiss works with ecology, agriculture, and soil science. He is a trained soil scientist and agronomist whose scientific interests are in understanding how soils function in a variety of ecological conditions to support management solutions and promote sustainable development goals. His research broadly explores how designing and managing agricultural systems affect soil processes, and how these interactions translate into key agroecological functions and provision of services, such as soil health, nutrient cycling, resource use efficiency, and soil organic carbon accrual and persistence.
Hometown:
Pato Branco, Parana, Brazil
Previous Academic Institution(s):
2012–2016 Ph.D. in Agronomy. Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Brazil.
One year spent as Research Scholar in North Carolina State University before moving to Ohio in 2018 to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Ohio State University with Dr. Steve Culman and Dr. Scott Demyan.
I research how experiences across home, school, and informal spaces, such as parks, support environmental interest and identity development. I work collaboratively with educators, learners, and community members to explore urban greenspaces as valuable sites for learning, advocacy, and stewardship and to foster relationships between human and more‐than‐human beings in support of multispecies justice. My approach is interdisciplinary, weaving together environmental education, community‐based ecological design, learning sciences, and naturalist practices. My teaching practice also draws on these disciplines and is structured to strengthen student motivation through a focus on learner interest.
I received a PhD in Learning Sciences and Policy from the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in Botany from the Field Naturalist program at the University of Vermont. Most recently I was Assistant Professor of Recreation Parks and Tourism Management at Penn State Greater Allegheny. I also worked in Pittsburgh, PA parks for 14 years where I spearheaded two major projects – advocating for the Nine Mile Run aquatic ecosystem restoration, one of the largest urban stream restorations in the U.S., and managing the design and construction of the Frick Environmental Center, a public education and welcome center that is net‐zero water and energy and is LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certified. As the Director of Education for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, I led the organization in successfully expanding and diversifying participation in parks‐based science education in partnership with local K‐12 educators.
Hometown:
Grew up in New York City, NY
Previous Academic Institution(s):
PhD from University of Pittsburgh School of Education; MS in Botany from University of Vermont.
Most recently an Assistant Professor of Recreation Park and Tourism Management at Penn State Greater Allegheny
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What are some of your hobbies or interests?
I love baking, especially making pies.
Can you share a professional recognition of which you are particularly proud?
In 2020 I won the Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Education Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators.
Why did you choose to join the CFAES faculty?
I am so excited to be joining CFAES and the School of Environment and Natural Resources so that I can continue to work across natural and social sciences to help develop the next generation of environmental education leaders.
Dr. Leonardo Deiss works with ecology, agriculture, and soil science. He is a trained soil scientist and agronomist whose scientific interests are in understanding how soils function in a variety of ecological conditions to support management solutions and promote sustainable development goals. His research broadly explores how designing and managing agricultural systems affect soil processes, and how these interactions translate into key agroecological functions and provision of services, such as soil health, nutrient cycling, resource use efficiency, and soil organic carbon accrual and persistence.
Hometown:
Pato Branco, Parana, Brazil
Previous Academic Institution(s):
2012–2016 Ph.D. in Agronomy. Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Brazil.
One year spent as Research Scholar in North Carolina State University before moving to Ohio in 2018 to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Ohio State University with Dr. Steve Culman and Dr. Scott Demyan.