Staff
The people of The Land Institute tend to be like the prairie — diverse and perennial. We are working together to accomplish a mission to which we are all passionately committed. Click on the photo of each staff member below for their bio. Visit our Board of Directors or Interns page for additional profiles.
Spencer Barriball
Research Technician, Perennial Legumes
Glory Benacka
Greenhouse Supervisor
Amy June Breesman
Land Relations Specialist
Peter Callan
Post-Baccalaureate Researcher, Soil Ecology
Tomas Cassani
Postdoctoral Researcher, Soil Ecology
Eric Cassetta
Phenomic Breeding Technician
Robin Chapman
Executive Assistant to the President
Anita Chase
Operations Manager
Edy Chérémond
Research Technician, Crop Protection Ecology
Marty Christians
Research Technician, Kernza®
Amy Cole
Chief Impact Officer
Stan Cox
Ecosphere Fellow
Evan Craine
Research Associate - End-Use Science in Crop Stewardship
Pat Crepps
Facilities and Grounds Assistant
Tim Crews
Chief Scientist; International Program Director, Director of Ecological Intensification
Lee DeHaan
Director of Crop Improvement/Lead Scientist, Kernza® Domestication Program
Madeline DuBois
Research Technician, Ecology
Matt Dunn
Research Assistant, Perennial Wheat
Tiffany Durr
Facilities Operations Manager
Madeline Dykstra
General Research Assistant
Hana Fancher
Market Stewardship Specialist
Westen Gehring
Grants Specialist
Adam Gorrell
Research Technician
Olivia Hamilton
Research Assistant, Greenhouse
Scott Hamilton
Facilities Manager
Jacob Handel
General Research Assistant
Gina Harding
Research Assistant, Crop Protection Genetics
Todd Humiston
Integrated Pest Management Specialist
Zach Jake
Research Assistant - Crop Protection Genetics
Patti Johnson
Accounting Associate
Laura Kemp
Perennial Agriculture Project, Field Station Manager
Tammy Kimbler
Chief Communications Officer
Ron Kinkelaar
Research Technician
Jessica Kleoppel
Senior Impact Manager
Reece Knapic
Research Technician, Civic Science
Emmie Lacy
Impact Specialist
Bo Meyering
Applications Developer
Ebony Murrell
Lead Scientist, Crop Protection Ecology
Pheonah Nabukalu
Lead Scientist, Perennial Sorghum
Lydia Nicholson
Research Technician, Educational Design
Frances O’Grady
General Research Assistant
Tessa Peters
Director of Crop Stewardship
Laura van der Pol
Lead Scientist, Soil Ecology
Krista Robinson
Director of People and Culture
Dakota Santiago
General Research Assistant
Mercedes Santiago
Greenhouse Specialist
Brandon Schlautman
Lead Scientist, Perennial Legumes
Tejas Srikanth
Integrated Marketing Communications Specialist
Sajal Sthapit
Postdoctoral Researcher, Kernza®, Intermediate Wheatgrass
Aubrey Streit Krug
Director of Perennial Cultures Lab
Rachel Stroer
President
Savannah Hall Taillon
Impact Specialist
Tracie Mattivi Thomas
Chief Operating Officer
Yvonne Thompson
Research Associate, Crop Protection Genetics
Betsy Trana
Perennial Oilseeds Research Technician
Kathryn Turner
Lead Scientist, Crop Protection Genetics
David Van Tassel
Lead Scientist, Perennial Oilseeds (Silphium)
Amanda Wagner
Impact Stewardship Specialist
Shuwen Wang
Lead Scientist, Perennial Wheat
Kelsey Whiting
Perennial Grain Policy and Government Affairs, Postdoctoral Researcher
Brenna Wilcox
Operations Project Coordinator
Claire Wineman
Research Technician, Soil Ecology