North Dakota State University

Education
Ph.D.     Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, 2012
              Major: Soil Physics, Focus: Biogeochemical Cycling in Rice-Based Cropping Systems

M.Ed.     Administration of Higher Education, Middle Tennessee State University, 2007
              Minor: Agriculture, Focus: Postsecondary Agricultural Institutions

B.S.      Agribusiness, Middle Tennessee State University, 2006
            Minor: Environmental Science

Classes of Instruction
SOIL 210 – Introduction to Soil Science. (F/Sp, 3 credits) An introductory-level course that covers the basic principles of soil science. Topics include the concept of soil as a natural body, composition of soil, functions of soil, soil formation and classification, physical/chemical/biological properties of soils, soil management and conservation, and discussion of global issues affecting the soil resource.

Professional Expertise
My academic efforts are multifaceted, in that, I primarily work to improve postsecondary education with individuals at various academic and professional levels within North Dakota State University (NDSU), across the state, and across other Land-grant institutions through NDSU’s Office of Teaching and Learning, under the Office of the Provost. This work involves conducting institutional-, program-, classroom-, and student-level assessments, creating and organizing grant-funded and grassroots opportunities for faculty, instructional staff, and graduate students to advance in teaching and learning scholarship, fostering science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational reform, administering distance and continuing education classes for K-12 teachers, creating international study-abroad opportunities for underrepresented students, working with University administrative committees and projects, and providing institution accreditation support.
     In addition to administrative efforts, I have a passion in helping individual students learn and understand the intricate dynamics of Soil Science. Soil Science is a gateway discipline to using chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, and math in a way that seems practical and applicable to daily life. This applicability creates a gateway for a more diverse group of students to enter STEM-related disciplines. I enjoy helping students discover the global significance of soil, in relation to agricultural production, environmental sustainability, and societal implications.    

Academic and Professional Qualifications
My professional experience in Soil Science and Agriculture has focused in the discipline of Soil Physics and Sustainable Crop Production, in relation to the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen and the fertility-based sustainability of cropping systems. I have specialized experience in intensive and smallholder rice-based crop production, biogeochemical cycling in periodically-flooded terrestrial ecosystems, soil aggregation dynamics, soil fertility management, irrigation regimes, covercrop vegetative filtration systems, international agricultural community development, agriculture economics, global food security, crop production system mechanization, postharvest grain loss prevention, and agriculture-based communication with large-scale agricultural producers, small-holder farmers, legislative personnel, administration officials, postsecondary students, K-12 students, and the general public.
     A majority of my agriculture-related work and experience has been in rice, corn (maize), soybean, and/or wheat production systems located in and around the United States (Arkansas, Iowa, Tennessee, and North Dakota), Kenya, Uganda, and the Philippines. Prior to transferring to NDSU in 2014, I worked with covercrop research and extension education as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University and completed two United States Agency for International Development (USAID) food security-based projects in Wang’uru, Kenya and Iganga, Uganda. Other past experiences include serving four years (1996-2000) in the United States Navy aboard the USS Sacramento (AOE-1) as an Interior Communications Electrician.

Scholarship Efforts
My scholarly focus involves working to eliminate any and all educational barriers in postsecondary education, including institutional, instructional, learning, and socioeconomic obstacles. Eliminating immediate educational barriers can sometimes be solved on an individual level, but often the long-term eradication of systemic issues involves an evolving strategic balance between administrative, pedagogical, attitudinal, and economical support within the institution and across the community. Developing the correct combination of accessible support is essential in building tailored resource foundations to securely guide individual students along their educational path, which allows students to accomplish their professional goals and become engaged citizens in society.

Curriculum Vitae

We should never stop learning and we should push ourselves to improve those around us, even if that ambition causes a bit of discomfort along the way. Words do not create change. Change only happens with action.