About

My fourth grade teacher pulled me aside one day and said that unlike the other students in class, I follow the beat of my own drum. He told me never to lose that sense of self. For better or worse, that's how I've lived most of my life. 

A native of the tiny farming town of Bozrah, in southeastern Connecticut, I grew up with a love of science and the natural world. My father was a local minister, dedicated to helping others, and I often volunteered to help his efforts (as much as a child could). Throughout this, I learned of the fulfillment that comes with contributing to a larger community and the value of working with others to effect change. In my own way, my interest in sustainable agriculture is simply a continuation in the service of others. 

 Our food system, while in some ways deeply removed from our everyday lives, is still highly interconnected in both visible and invisible ways. The problems facing farmers are the same ones affecting us all: how do we adjust to a changing climate? What do we do when something doesn't work anymore (like antibiotics or pesticides)? How can we continue to produce nutritious food that is also affordable for everyone?

I'm interested in tackling these seemingly intractable problems by using a variety of focal points (e.g., local to global scales) and through a combination of disciplinary ideas. I don't pretend to know the answers, but I'm intent on finding the right questions to ask.