Empowering Educators to Co-create Community Partnerships | Integrating Evidence-Based Practices to Increase Program Impact

I am a Professor of Practice in the Crop and Soil Science Department in the College of Agricultural Science at Oregon State University. My work focuses on bringing evidence-based teaching and learning practices into the everyday work of extension professionals and others who teach in agricultural and natural resource systems. Through leading educational projects, I have seen the power of collaboration to spark new insights and deepen connections with farmers, ranchers, and community members.

Through my work, I aim to shift the mindset that learning and teaching innovation happen alone. Instead, I want to build a culture of engagement—one where we co-create effective approaches that support sustainable practices and nurture human well-being.

Areas of Focus

Climate Stress and Grief: I serve as a co-PI on Climate Stress and Grief: Building Resilience in Farmers and Ranchers Initiative, which offers programming for producers and train-the-trainer courses for educators. Building on this foundation, a transdisciplinary team is expanding the program to include fishers, foresters, and conservationists, recognizing the shared challenges to livelihoods and identity across natural resource sectors. This team is also crafting a research agenda to deepen understanding of the role of emotional processing of climate-related distress in contributing to resilience adaptation on farms and ranches.
Professional Development: I provide capacity-building programs to help educators deepen their understanding of the science of learning and develop skills in instructional design and learner-centered teaching. I support and advocate for co-creating programming in which producers serve as educators, ensuring that lived experience and knowledge are included and inform program design.
International Research and Service: With two colleagues, I co-developed an OSU study-abroad program in partnership with the Royal University of Bhutan. In September 2025, I co-led the first OSU cohort to experience Bhutanese culture and learn how gross national happiness is informed by Buddhism, Bhutanese culture, and rural life. As an accepted Fulbright Specialist, I will share my expertise outside the US through a collaborative project.
Extension Teaching Network: I lead monthly Zoom meetings to provide a venue for sharing teaching and learning insights, wrestling with challenges, and demonstrating new tools that enhance engagement. Contact me to get added to the group.