Two new faculty members, Ann-Marie Fortuna and Abbey Wick, joined the School of Natural Resource Sciences’ Department of Soil Science this summer. Fortuna and Wick were hired as a result of an initiative from the last North Dakota Legislative session to address issues affecting soil health and land management.

“I am very excited about two exceptional faculty joining the soils program,” said Frank Casey, interim director of the School of Natural Resource Sciences. “These new faculty will address key concerns regarding our state’s most precious resource, but also place NDSU Soils as a national leader in several categories.”

Fortuna was hired as a research assistant professor to investigate soil health issues that include soil salinity, sub-surface tile drainage, drought, and range and native lands. She also will teach courses related to her research areas. Fortuna earned a doctorate in soil science from Michigan State University. Prior to NDSU, she was an assistant professor at Washington State University. She has been awarded more than $6.8 million in grants and published 16 peer-reviewed journal articles. 

Wick was hired as an Extension assistant professor and will develop educational programs and provide leadership for Extension in soil health. She also will conduct applied research on soil health issues. Wick earned a doctorate in 2007 from the University of Wyoming and was most recently a postdoctoral member in the Marginal Soils Research Group at Virginia Tech. She has 10 peer-reviewed publications, 12 outreach publications and $279,000 in funded grants. 

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.