Wale Adewunmi, Science Advisor

Dr. Wale Adewunmi is a soil scientist in a non-traditional soil environment where he conducts field investigations and manages process optimization. He is the Superintendent of Environmental Quality at a regional wastewater facility in New Jersey. His work includes critical water quality issues, hazardous wastes, sludge/biosolids quality and beneficial uses, generating electric power from landfill gas, and a range of regulatory compliance. For more than a decade, he has been involved in advancing soil education and outreach through the SSSA K-12 Committee. He obtained his degrees in Agronomy, Soil Science and, Environmental Chemistry from Lincoln University, University of Missouri-Columbia and, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey respectively. He is a member of the Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Water Environment Federation, New Jersey Water Environment Association, the International Union of Soil Science, and American Geophysical Union.

Jennifer DeBruyn, Science Advisor

Jennifer DeBruyn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. She received her B.Sc.H in Biology from Queen's University (Kingston, Canada) and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee. She is an environmental microbiologist who investigates decomposition and biodegradation in both agricultural and natural ecosystems.

Missy Holzer, Curriculum Advisor

Missy Holzer, is passionate about science education. She taught high school science for more than 30 years, adjuncts for different universities, and is currently a science standards specialist with Great Minds, PBC^™. She champions the integration of science practices with science sensemaking about phenomena to foster the development of lifelong problem solvers. She enjoys field research immensely and has assisted in data collection in places such as the stratosphere (SOFIA), Svalbard, Greenland, Nicaragua, Kenya, Ecuador, Jamaica, Costa Rica, off the coasts of Oregon, South Carolina, Cape Cod, and Chile. Back in the classroom, she uses her field experiences to develop units of study to inspire students to explore and understand their natural world. She is the secretary of the National Earth Science Teachers Association (President 2012-2014), has served on many state and national committees, and presents at local, regional, and national conferences about innovative instructional practices especially focused on the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards. As a way to indulge her love of soil science, she has served on the K12 Committee of the Soil Science Society of America for over ten years assisting with their education and outreach projects. She has a MAT in science education, a M.S. in Geography, and a Ph.D. in science education.

Dr. David Lindbo, Science Advisor

Dr. David Lindbo is the 11^th Director of the Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA-NRCS, and emeritus professor of soil science at North Carolina State University. The Soil and Plant Science Division is responsible for developing, maintaining, and interpreting the national soil and ecological site survey for the United States. Additionally, he has authored/co-authored numerous research and extension publications including general interest soil books Soil! Get the Inside Scoop and Know Soil, Know Life

Autumn Starcher, Science Advisor

Autumn Starcher is an instructor in Marshall University's Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. She received her Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Delaware in 2016, and her research focused on the chemistry of metals in wetland soil conditions. Her current focus is on teaching and curriculum development related to the university's new agriculture major.

Briana Wyatt, Science Advisor

Dr. Briana Wyatt is an assistant professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Her specialty is soil physics and hydrology, and her research program focuses on developing useful applications of meteorological, soil moisture, and soil physical property data and studying the influence of soil moisture on various components of the hydrological cycle and soil health. Dr. Wyatt has been a member of the SSSA K-12 committee since 2018 and has a strong desire to increase youth interest and participation in the Earth sciences, especially among women and minorities.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Youngman, Educators Guide, Lead Developer

Betsy Youngman is a curriculum developer for a variety of educational projects across the nation. She taught middle and high school science for 25 years, most recently at Phoenix Country Day School. Betsy has a Master's degree in science education from Montana State University, where she focused on the use of geospatial tools in science education.

In addition to this project, Betsy was a curriculum developer for multiple EarthLabs and EET modules.

Susan Chapman, Project Coordinator

Susan is the Director of Member Services for Agronomy Society of America, Crop Society of America, and Soil Society of America where she's responsible for ensuring member engagement and value for 9,000+ members — which happens through working with a dedicated team of staff and members to advance the Agronomy, Crop Science, and Soil Sciences. She also works with a dedicated group of members to build the SSSA K-12 outreach program and the ASA K-12 outreach program.

Additional Project Team Members

Clay "Dr. Dirt" Robinson, Science Advisor
Amanda Liesch, Science Advisor