Faculty Associates

Adena Rissman
Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology
adena.rissman@wisc.edu
Interested in connections among people, policy, ecosystems, and fiber and food production. Teaches Natural Resources Policy and directs the PIE lab: People, Institutions, and Ecosystems.
Minigrant students: Lu (2024), Fochesatto (2021), Kazer (2018)

Adrian Treves
Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies
atreves@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Santiago-Avila (2016)

Alfonso Morales
Chair, Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture
morales1@wisc.edu
Broad research interests in farmers markets, street vendors, food distribution, ecosystem services. CoCreator offarm2facts.org, founder of the Kaufman Lab
Minigrant students: DeMarsh (2021), Cotton (2017), Suerth (2017), Wilson (2016), Dundore (2016)

Amaya Atucha, CIAS governance committee
Department of Horticulture
atucha@wisc.edu
Broad research interest in fruit cropping systems, viticulture, organic fruit production, crop ecophysiology. Wisconsin Fruit website, @WIFruitNews twitter, WFN YouTube Channel.

Andrew Stevens
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
awstevens@wisc.edu
Applied micro-econometrician working on agricultural and food policy throughout the agri-food supply chain.

Brad Bolling
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences
Bwbolling@wisc.edu
He works on improving the impact of food on human and environmental health, while increasing the sustainability and equity of the food system. He is interested in food composition, bioavailability, and health effects.

Bill Tracy
Department of Agronomy
wftracy@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Wilson (2022), Mcluskey (2018), Bugel (2017), Shelton (2014)

Bret Shaw
Department of Life Sciences Communication and Division of Extension
brshaw@wisc.edu
Conducts research and outreach to promote local food systems, including CSAs, farmers markets, fresh produce grown by WI farmers, farm-raised fish and expanding maple syrup production in Wisconsin.
Minigrant student: Nardi (2016)

Charles Nicholson
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
cfnicholson@wisc.edu
Broad research interest in food systems, especially at the interface of economic and biophysical analysis and with stakeholder engagement.
Minigrant student: Lebowitz (2023)

Chris Kucharik
Department of Agronomy
kucharik@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Henegan (2021), Campbell (2019)

Christelle Guedot
Department of Entomology
guedot@wisc.edu
Interested in food systems as they relate to the integration of pest and pollinator management in fruit production.
Minigrant students: Hrycyna (2024), McIntosh (2019)

Claudia Irene Calderon
Department of Horticulture
cicalderon@wisc.edu
Conducts ethnographic work with Indigenous producers in Mesoamerica with a focus on participatory action-research around agroecology, food sovereignty, gender and climate resilience.
Minigrant student: Lewis (2024)

Claudio Gratton
Department of Entomology
cgratton@wisc.edu
Landscape ecology and conservation of insects in agricultural landscapes with emphasis on agroecological approaches, perenniality, and beneficial insects
Minigrant students: Pessereau (2023), Harnsberger (2022), Iuliano (2021), Lowe (2018), Freidrich (2015), Hemberger (2014and 2017), Pelton (2013)

Corbett Grainger
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
cagrainger@wisc.edu
Environmental and resource economist with interests in climate change, air pollution, environmental and resource policies, and distribution/equity.
Minigrant students: Karwowski (2019), Schreiber (2017), Raynor (2015), Schatzberg (2013)

Craig Thompson
Wisconsin School of Business
craig.thompson@wisc.edu

Curt Meine
Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology (adjunct)
cmeine@wisc.edu
Interdisciplinary interests at the intersection of conservation science, history, and the environmental humanities.

Dale Schoeller
Nutritional Sciences
dschoell@nutrisci.wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Berezowitz (2013)

Daniel Kleinman
Integrated Liberal Studies Program
daniel.kleinman@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Anderson (2015)

Donald Waller
African Studies Program
dmwaller@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Richards (2016), Sommerkamp (2014)

Doug Reinemann
Department of Biological Systems Engineering
djreinem@facstaff.wisc.edu
Research and Extension interests include applications of Integral Ecology as a heuristic framework for understanding the interactions between individuals, groups, and physical ecosystem; and quantitative analysis of sustainability metrics using life cycle assessment methods.

Edna Ely-Ledesma
Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture
eledesma@wisc.edu
Serving as director of the Kaufman Lab for the Studies and Design of Food Systems (K-Lab), Ely-Ledesma’s research examines the creation of place in 21st century American cities through the study of marketplaces. Of particular interest is research questions associated with spatial inequalities, economic outcomes, entrepreneurship and public participation and access to technology. How marginalized populations, such as Latina/o/x, make places in the 21st century American city is fundamental question that guides her focus within the study of justice and the built environment.

Emily Bick
Department of Entomology
ebick@wisc.edu
Assistant Professor of Precision Pest Ecology and Extension Specialist for field and forage crops at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Bick’s focus on applied agroecology and spatial population biology directly contributes to the CIAS’s goal of fostering transdisciplinary inquiry and supporting a range of research, outreach, and professional development opportunities. Her research in developing tools and strategies for data-driven precision management practices is a clear example of the kind of innovative, practical solutions that the CIAS aims to promote.
Minigrant students: Glynn (2024), Oker (2024), Robbins (2024)

Eve Emshwiller
Department of Botany
emshwiller@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Le (2018), Peterson (2015)

Francisco Arriaga
Department of Soil Science
farriaga@wisc.edu

Heidi Goodrich-Blair
Department of Bacteriology
hgblair@bact.wisc.edu

Holly Gibbs
Department of Geography and Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
hkgibbs@wisc.edu
Land system scientist who conducts policy-relevant research on deforestation in Latin America and cropland expansion in the US.  Founder of the Global Land Use and Environment lab (GLUE).
Minigrant student: Gobster (2023)

Ian Baird
Department of Geography
Research interests include agricultural certification (particularly organic, geographical indication, and fair trade), how upland agriculture and land-use are being organized in Southeast Asia, and how agriculture (particularly burning related to agriculture) is affecting air pollution issues in Southeast Asia.
ibaird@wisc.edu

Irwin Goldman
Department of Horticulture
ilgoldma@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Hanson (2016)

James Crall
Department of Entomology
james.crall@wisc.edu
Research interests in insect behavior and integrative ecology, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, agroecology, pollinator health, and computer vision for ecology.
Minigrant student: Melone (2022)

Jane Collins
Department of Community and Environmental Sociology
jcollins@ssc.wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Wypler (2019), Leslie (2018), Serrano (2018), Hartley (2013)

Janet Silbernagel
Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture
jmsilber@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Pfeiffer (2017)

Jennifer Gaddis
School of Human Ecology
jgaddis@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Hellenbrand (2021), Rana (2021), Richmond, Berezowitz (2015)

Jonathan Patz
Global Health Institute
patz@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Stull (2014), Warsaw (2014)

Julie Dawson
Department of Horticulture
jcdawson2@wisc.edu
Research interests include plant breeding for organic systems, participatory research and extension for farms serving local and regional markets.
Minigrant students: Baker (2022), Carvallo (2021), Schindler (2019), Steussy-Williams (2017), Jessee (2017), Healy (2014)

Kathy Cramer
Department of Political Science
kathy.cramer@wisc.edu
Research interests in public opinion and political behavior, including variations in political understanding across types of place.

Katherine Curtis
Department of Sociology
kcurtis@ssc.wisc.edu
Work is centered in demography and extends to spatial, environmental, rural, and applied demography, and focuses on two central themes: population-environment interactions, most centrally the relationship between demographic, economic, and environmental forces; and spatial and temporal dimensions of social and economic inequality, most centrally historical and local forces perpetuating racial disparities.
Minigrant student: Canfield (2023)

Ken Genskow
Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture
kgenskow@wisc.edu
Interests in environmental planning and policy with an emphasis on water, watersheds, governance, water and agriculture, and collaborative environmental management
Minigrant student: Kniffin (2016)

Kerri Coon
Department of Bacteriology
kerri.coon@wisc.edu
Lab research focuses on insect-microbe interactions and disease vectors, specifically mosquitos and the interplay of the diversity and function of gut microbes on the ability to transmit animal pathogens.
Minigrant students: Amon (2024), Sommer (2023)

Laura Schechter
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
lschechter@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Perng (2014)

Laurie Beth Clark
Department of Art
lbclark@wisc.edu
Research interest in cultural food studies, and artistic practice with food as part of Spatula&Barcode, a social practice arts group that has produced its “Foodways” series on five continents.

Leslie Holland
Department of Plant Pathology
laholland@wisc.edu
Current research and extension program focuses on understanding the etiology of diseases and epidemiology of pathogens destructive to fruit crops in Wisconsin to provide management solutions to growers.
Minigrant students: Huff (2023)

Lisa Naughton
Department of Geography
naughton@geography.wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Winkler-Schor (2021), Rice (2020)

Lucia Gutierrez
Department of Agronomy
gutierrezcha@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Massman (2020)

Mark Renz
Department of Agronomy
mrenz@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Grace (2017), Gurda (2013)

Matt Ruark
Department of Soil Science
mdruark@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Judd (2024), Schauer (2022), Krishnan (2016)

Matthew Turner
Department of Geography
mturner2@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Lawler (2023)

Michael Bell, CIAS director emeritus
Department of Community and Environmental Sociology
michaelbell@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Crider (2020), MacGregor (2020), Blandt (2019), Isidore (2019), Decre (2018), Lanker (2017), Potter-Weight (2017), Reynolds (2017 and 2021), Ugoretz (2015, 2019, and 2021), Morgul (2015)

Michael Peterson
Department of Art
michael.w.peterson@wisc.edu
Research interest in cultural food studies, and artistic practice with food as part of Spatula&Barcode, a social practice arts group that has produced its “Foodways” series on five continents.

Michel Wattiaux, CIAS director emeritus
Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences
wattiaux@wisc.edu
Research and instruction on livestock dairy systems, international agricultural and food systems sustainability; Reduction of GHG emissions and holistic assessment of dairy systems through the lenses of agroecology and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). For more, please click the ORCID or Dairy Nutrient links.

Monica White
Department of Community and Environmental Sociology
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
mmwhite3@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Keeve (2020), Le (2018), Cotton (2017)

Mutlu Ozdogan
Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology
ozdogan@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Geygan (2020)

Nan Enstad, CIAS governance committee
Department of Community and Environmental Sociology
nenstad@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Fisher (2024), Lee (2023), Bird (2022)

Nathan Schulfer
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
schulfer@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Mino (2017)

Nesli Akdeniz Onuki
Biological Systems Engineering
nesli@wisc.edu
Research and extension programs focus on controlled environments, including livestock and crop production. Effective management of environmental conditions plays an important role in mitigating environmental impacts and increasing resource utilization.
Minigrant students: Yang (2023), Yi (2023)

Noah Feinstein
Department of Community & Environmental Sociology
Robert E. and Jean F. Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies
nfeinstein@wisc.edu

Peter Lukszys
Wisconsin School of Business
peter.lukszys@wisc.edu
Interests include supply chain disruptions, global logistics, and enterprise IT systems. Teaches course for undergrad and MBA supply chain management majors.

Peter McIntyre
Department of Zoology
pmcintyre@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Stevens (2015)

Randy Jackson
Department of Agronomy
rdjackson@wisc.edu
Research, engagement, and teaching in Grassland Ecology. Exploring how management of agroecosystems (disturbance, diversity, and inputs) affects the ecosystem functions (e.g., C sequestration, nutrient retention, and habitat) supporting critical ecosystem services (e.g., climate stabilization, clean water, and biodiversity. Principal investigator for the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping System Trial (WICST) and Grassland 2.0-An Agroecological Transformation Plan for Perennial Grassland Agriculture in the Upper Midwest.
Minigrant students: Ncwadi (2022), Becker (2020), Bembeneck (2019), Landis (2019), Dirks (2018)

Randy Stoecker
Department of Community and Environmental Sociology
rstoecker@wisc.edu
Broad interests in community organizing, community development, and community-based research that furthers the social justice work of grassroots organizations.  Director of the Applied Population Laboratory.
Minigrant student: Ross (2013)

Rick Lankau
Department of Plant Pathology
lankau@wisc.edu
Minigrant student: Hayden (2020)

Robbert Beattie
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
rbeattie@wisc.edu
With a background in public involvement in environmental planning and considerable experience as a consultant and instructor, most of his teaching focuses on professional development and community engagement in complex environmental and conservation issues. Of particular interest is the design and operation of participatory processes that span multiple disciplines and publics.
Minigrant student: Emily Azevedo-Casey (2025)

Russell L. Groves, CIAS director emeritus
Department of Entomology
rgroves@wisc.edu
Research interests broadly focused on integrated pest management in vegetables across all farm scales.
Minigrant students: Terris (2024), Lowe (2018), Zhang (2014)

Sam Dennis
Department of Landscape Architecture
sfdennisjr@wisc.edu

Shawn Steffan
Department of Entomology
steffan@entomology.wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Huff (2023), Eisner (2017), Chavez (2016)

Steve Ventura
Nelson Institute and Soil Science
sventura@wisc.edu
Minigrant students: Lierl (2018), Imhoff (2016), Galleguillo (2015), Keeley (2015)

Thea Whitman
Department of Soil Science
twhitman@wisc.edu
Research interests in soil biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and climate change

Valentin Picasso-Risso
Department of Agronomy
picassorisso@wisc.edu
Interested in transdisciplinary approaches to perennialization and diversification of agroecosystems to increase resilience to climate change using forages and perennial grains in the US and abroad.
Minigrant students: Shoenberger (2024), Shoenberger (2023), Cartoni (2020), Favre (2019)

Warren Porter
Department of Integrative Biology
wpporter@wisc.edu
Research interests broadly focused on 1) Low-level concentrations of pesticides and their mixtures and their impacts on nervous, endocrine, immune and epigenetic effects, especially at environmentally relevant concentrations. 2) Climate change impacts on animals and its effects on their ability to grow, reproduce, especially lately on agricultural animals that produce products for human consumption.
Minigrant student: Selen (2014)

Yiqun Weng
Department of Horticulture
Yiqun.weng@wisc.edu
Research interests in cucumber genetics and breeding.
Minigrant student: Wang (2017)

Zhou Zhang
Biological Systems Engineering
zzhang347@wisc.ed

• Ken Albrecht, Agronomy
• Brad Barham, Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Larry Binning, Horticulture
• Richard Bishop, Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Bill Bland, Soils
• Steve Born, Urban and Regional Planning
• Robert Brush, Forestry (UWSP)
• Larry Bundy (deceased), Soils
• Robert Butler
• Frederick Buttel (deceased), Community and Environmental Sociology
• Gerry Campbell, Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Mike Casler, Agronomy
• Lin Compton, Continuing Adult and Vocational Education
• Tim Connell, Nutrient and Pest Management Program
• Dennis Cosgrove (deceased), Agronomy
• Ron Crunkilton, Water Resources (UWSP)
• Eileen Cullen, Entomology
• Clive David (deceased), Forestry (UWSP)
• Jerry Doll, Agronomy
• Herman Felstehausen, Landscape Architecture
• Gary Frank, Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Jess Gilbert, Community and Environmental Sociology
• Jo Handelsman, Plant Pathology
• Rebecca Harbut, Horticulture
• Robin Harris, Soils
• Brent Hueth, Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Doug Jackson-Smith, Community and Environmental Sociology
• Bob Kauffmann, Animal & Dairy Science
• Keith Kelling, Soils
• Jack Kloppenberg, Community and Environmental Sociology

• Joe Lauer, Agronomy
• Patty Loew, Life Sciences Communication
• Dan Mahr, Entomology
• Cathy Middlecamp, Office of Sustainability
• Jim Nienhuis, Horticulture
• Pete Nowak, Community and Environmental Sociology
• Garrett O’Keefe, Life Sciences Communication
• Ed Oplinger, Agronomy
• Jennifer Parke, Plant Pathology
• Sara Patterson, Horticulture
• Donald Peterson (deceased), Community and Environmental Sociology
• Josh Posner (deceased), Agronomy
• Mark Powell, Soils
• Ken Raffa, Entomology
• Teryl Roper, Horticulture
• Dan Schaefer, Animal & Dairy Science
• Terry Smith, Animal & Dairy Science
• Sara Steele, Continuing Adult and Vocational Education
• Walt Stevenson, Plant Pathology
• Dave Stoltenberg, Agronomy
• Dan Undersander, Agronomy
• Eugene Wilkening (deceased), Community and Environmental Sociology
• Jeff Wyman (deceased), Entomology
• Lydia Zepeda, School of Human Ecology
• John Harrington, Agroecology, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, Gaylord Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies