2021 Alumni Medalist

When I was at the USDA, I helped establish the plant genome program. This work has led to an explosion of new technologies and new ways to breed plants for increased yield, allowing us to produce more food on less land. It’s also led to producing crops with fewer pesticides and to developing plants with higher nutritional properties to help people across the world have access to healthier diets.

My work as executive director of the FFAR. We’ve created an ecosystem of innovation that didn’t exist previously in the agriculture research enterprise, that of public/private partnerships. We’ve engaged with more than 500 funding partners and hundreds of grants. It’s really accelerated the pace of science for the public good.

I owe so much to Ohio State. I was planning to go to vet school, but I took an entomology course my senior year and was so intrigued that I decided to go to graduate school in entomology. My training was fantastic, and my advisor Dave Denlinger was a stellar scientist who was always supportive. Ohio State helped me hone my scientific skills and connected me with the best in the field. I also worked as a field scout with OSU Extension, where I had my first in-depth experience in agriculture. And finally, I met my husband in graduate school, so I owe my entire personal life to this university.

My passion is rock music, specifically the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. I’ve seen the Stones probably 20 times, but Bruce is my real passion. The first album I ever bought was his back in 1973. I fell in love with his music and have been following him ever since. I’ve been to over 50 Springsteen concerts, including twice to his Broadway show. I can’t wait until he tours with the E Street Band again.