Proficiency in the Study of Soil

Co-founder Dr. Deiss is a trained soil scientist and agronomist who has advanced understanding of how soils function in a variety of ecologically intensified agricultural systems, demonstrating success in adopting novel methods of soil analysis and emerging soil health indicators to estimate major soil processes including carbon capture. This includes experience evaluating soil organic carbon pools in heterogeneous landscapes and how inherent and dynamic soil properties impact soil carbon storage in agricultural lands. Dr. Deiss has contributed to conducting on-farm experiments for research and outreach including the adoption of conservation practices in multiple regions of Ohio as well as soil surveys in lands under private ownership with funding awards provided by the USDA NRCS, Ohio Department of Higher Education, The Ohio State University, and the Ohio Soybean Council. 

Dr. Deiss received his B.S. in Agricultural Engineering (2010), M.S. in Agronomy (2012) and Ph.D. in Agronomy (2016) from the Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Brazil. His doctoral training included one year as a Research Scholar at North Carolina State University under the guidance of Dr. Alan Franzluebbers, USDA Professor of Soil Ecology and Management. 

Co-founder Dr. Campbell is a trained community development specialist. Dr. Campbell has conducted research across the United States on behalf of multiple federal agencies, including the USDA and EPA, Ohio State Extension, American Society of Agronomy, and private foundations. Dr. Campbell has led multidisciplinary research teams in regions with major land use areas dedicated towards agriculture as well as in communities with historic or emerging urban agriculture. He served as a 2016-2017 U.S. Fulbright Scholar at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania where he taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses in rural sociology and development. He assisted the Great Lakes Regional Social Indicators Research team that developed the Social Indicators Data Management and Analysis tool, including research design and pilot testing social measures in several watersheds in Ohio using both mailing and drop-off/pick-up collection techniques to enhance farmer participation.

Dr. Campbell received his B.A. in Environmental Studies and Sociology (2006) from the University of Vermont, and his M.S. in Environment and Natural Resources (2008) and Ph.D. in Rural Sociology (2013) from The Ohio State University. 

Ms. Sherifat Alabi is a doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership at The Ohio State University. Her dissertation research focuses on building resilient communities through effective communication strategies for regenerative agriculture. She holds a bachelor of agricultural technology from the Federal University of Technology Akure (Nigeria) and M.S. in agricultural extension and rural development from the University of Ibadan (Nigeria). She previously worked for various technology and engineering firms and served as a Radio Host for the Farmer’s Forum agricultural program on Diamond 101.1 FM. 

In this RCPP project, she will collaborate with participating farmers to elevate their stories of resiliency and to advance agricultural literacy among diverse communities. 

Mr. Aravind Ramadas is a doctoral student in the School of Environment and Natural Resources with a specialization in soil science at The Ohio State University. His dissertation research focuses on regenerative agriculture production systems, soil health, and the carbon sequestration potential of soils as a climate change mitigation strategy.  He holds a B.S. from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (India) and master’s in agricultural extension from Allahabad Agriculture University (India). He previously worked as the farm manager at Mitraniketan.

In this RCPP project, he will participate in soil sampling and data analysis to identify associations between land management and soil carbon storage in the Miami Valley.

Mr. Andy Moffit works within the construction industry, providing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) consulting services to dozens of clients across the country. He holds a B.S. from The Ohio State University.  

In this RCPP project, he contributes his geographic information system (GIS) skills to map farm-scale attributes and collect soil data, helping to create scientifically informed datasets.