I contribute to ISU through teaching, advising, and research. I work on-campus, around Iowa & internationally. As a teacher and adviser I seek to foster scientific understanding, career preparedness and lifelong learning. My research examines natural soil formation, human-induced soil transformations, and inherent soil productivity. I share my findings through scholarly journal articles, soil survey interpretations, professional reports and outreach presentations.

I joined the Department of Agronomy in 1995 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor and Professor in 2001 and 2007, respectively.  I was awarded Morrill Professor in 2020.   I came to ISU from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where I was an Assistant Professor (1990 to 1995).

Selected Awards

• The Milkman Family Mentorship Award, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Student Council, 2022
• Faculty Escort at Commencement for Student Marshal Payten Watson, 2022.
• Team Award (Uganda Program), College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, 2020
• Senior Marshal, Iowa State University, 2017
• Team Award (Master Gardener Program), College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, 2016
• Patriotic Employer, Secretary of the Department of Defense – Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve, 2015
• Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, 2013
• Women in Agronomy Mentoring, ASA-CSSA-SSSA, 2012
• Excellence in University Teaching, USDA, 2011
• Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching, ISU, 2010
• Soil Science Resident Education, SSSA, 2009
• Agronomy Resident Education, ASA, 2008
• Excellence in Academic Advising, ISU, 2007