College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Community Sustainability

Advisor: Jessica Toombs

I am a Ph.D. student in Community Sustainability, with a focus on school-based agricultural education (SBAE). My current research interests are focused on educational equity, access, and civic engagement in SBAE programming. Drawing on systems-based approaches in education, sustainability, and social science research, I aim to develop research-based strategies for educators that promote inclusive and equitable learning environments.  

As a graduate assistant in the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education (AFNRE) program, I support teaching, research, and outreach initiatives related to agricultural education and teacher preparation. I am also a recipient of the C.S. Mott Fellowship in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, a program that supports graduate scholars committed to advancing sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems. Through the fellowship, I engage with interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability, systems thinking, community development, and the social dimensions of food and agricultural systems.

I earned my B.S. in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education from Michigan State University and my M.S. in Community and Leadership Development from the University of Kentucky. My long-term goal is to become a faculty member focusing my teaching, research, and outreach on educational equity, agricultural sustainability, and community-engaged scholarship.