University of Kentucky College of Agriculture

Faculty Bios and Contact Information

Mark Williams

 Dr. Mark Williams is the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Sustainable Agriculture Program and teaches multiple classes in the curriculum, including Capstone in Sustainable Agriculture (SAG 490), Apprenticeship in Sustainable Agriculture (SAG 397), Plant Production Systems (PLS 386)(co-taught) and Integrated Weed Management (PLS 404)(co-taught).  Dr. Williams was the founder of the Organic Farming Research and Education Unit at the Horticulture Research Farm, which houses our 12 acre Community Supported Agriculture Program and 8 acres of research.  He has a wide array of research interests and has advised graduate students in a number of organic and sustainable agriculture projects.  His research is currently focused on developing effective disease management strategies for organic cucurbit production, and studying the interactions between plants and microbes in organic farming systems. Email Dr. Williams. See Dr. Williams' full contact information.
  Dr. Krista Jacobsen is a Lecturer in the Sustainable Agriculture Program, and teaches a number of classes in the program, including Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture (SAG 101), Cultural Perspectives on Sustainability (SAG 201), and co-teaches Agroecology and Plant Production Systems (SAG/PLS 386) with Drs. Rebecca McCulley and Mark Williams, respectively.  Krista is a systems-oriented agroecologist by training, and received her PhD in Ecology from the University of Georgia in 2008.  Her research interests include no-till organic farming systems, high tunnel and year-round growing techniques, and soil quality management in organic farming systems. Email Dr. Jacobsen. See Dr. Jacobsen's full contact information.
 

 
Mike Bomford Dr. Michael Bomford is a research scientist and extension specialist at Kentucky State University, and an adjunct faculty member in the University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture. Michael serves on the Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum Committee and has been involved with the SAG Program as a co-instructor in SAG 101 and is a frequent guest lecturer in other SAG class.  His work focuses on organic and sustainable agriculture systems suitable for adoption by small farms operating with limited resources. His projects examine practical ways to reduce food system energy use and meet farm energy needs using renewable resources produced on-farm. Michael has a Master of Pest Management from Simon Fraser University, and a PhD in Plant and Soil Sciences from West Virginia University, where he conducted research on one of the nation's first land grant university farms operated entirely according to national organic standards.  Learn more Kentucky State University’s Organic Program and Dr. Bomford’s work.

Jeffrey Bewley

 Dr. Jeffrey Bewley is from Rineyville, Kentucky where he grew up working on his grandfather’s dairy farm.  He received a B.S. in Animal Sciences from the University of Kentucky in 1998, his M.S. in Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000, and his PhD from Purdue University in 2008.  Jeffrey’s primary extension interests are the economics of decisions on dairy farms, records management and benchmarking, systems troubleshooting, strategic dairy business management, facility modernization, human resources management, and dairy cow comfort/well-being.  Jeffrey teaches the Animal Production Systems (ACS 382) course in the Sustainable Agriculture Program and has mentored a number of undergraduate research projects in sustainable dairy systems. Contact Dr. Bewley.
   

Deborah Hill

 Dr. Deborah Hill is an Extension Professor in the Department of Forestry.  Dr. Hill’s areas of expertise include non-timber forest products, small woodlot management, urban forestry, agroforestry, permaculture, and square foot gardening.  She serves on the Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum Committee, is a guest lecturer in several SAG classes, as well as manages her own farm using permaculture and agroforestry techniques. Contact Dr. Hill.
Rebecca McCulley

Dr. Rebecca McCulley is an Assistant Professor in Plant and Soil Sciences and is a grassland ecosystem ecologist.  She co-teaches the Agroecology course in the SAG Program, as well as the Plants, Soils and People in the Plant Science Curriculum.  Rebecca’s research focuses on ecosystem structure and function of both native and 'naturalized' grasslands, how they respond to climate variability and land use change, and the soil microbial communities in these ecosystems.  Learn more about the McCulley lab.
Lee Meyer 

Dr. A. Lee Meyer, Extension Professor in the Agricultural Economics Department, specializes in sustainable agriculture, including direct marketing and farm transitions. Some of Lee’s current projects include: grass-based cattle systems; Annie’s Project (a management program for farm women); KyFarmStart (a beginning farmed education program). Lee chairs the UK College of Ag Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems working group; teaches a course in International Food Systems; and, has worked on long term projects in Thailand and Poland. He received his Ph.D. from Purdue U. in 1980. Contact Dr. Meyer.

Bob Perry

 Bob Perry has worked as a chef for almost thirty years in a variety of operations including yachts, high-speed ferries, trains, steamboats and restaurants that don’t move including his own bistro “The Farmers’ Hall”.  He serves on the board of directors of Chefs Collaborative a national group that promotes Local, Sustainable & Delicious food, teaches a culinary course here at UK that uses local foods and has designed several programs to implement the use of local food in institutions including UK.  He lives on an historic farm in Garrard County with his wife Mary and two boys James and Mac. Contact Chef Bob.
 

Dr. Keiko Tanaka is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Dr. & Mrs. C. Milton Coughenour Sociology Professor in Agriculture & Natural Resources. She has been involved in the SAG program as a member of the SAG Curriculum Committee and an instructor of SAG 201: Cultural Perspectives on Sustainability, SAG 490: Capstone in Sustainable Agriculture (co-taught with Mark Williams), and SOC 517: Rural Sociology (elective in the SAG program).  Through Lexington Community Food Assessement, her on-going integrated research, instruction, and outreach project with Dr. Patrick Mooney in the Sociology Department, she has trained several SAG students with social science research skills in understanding the transformation of agriculture and food economy.  Her research focuses on the role of agricultural science and technology in transforming agriculture and food economy; the role of ethics in building alternative food networks; and the contestation of food knowledge over “sustainability,” “health,” and “safety.” Dr. Tanaka is currently the Director of the Asia Center as well as the Director of Graduate Studies in Sociology.  Contact Dr. Tanaka.

 

Dr. Paul Vincelli is an Extension Professor and Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor of Entomology.  He teaches Principles of Plant Pathology (PPA 400G) in the SAG Program, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Teaching and Learning in the College of Agriculture and a highly decorated teacher at the University of Kentucky.  Dr. Vincelli’s research focuses on management of diseases of forages, turf grasses, corn, and organic farming systems and DNA-based diagnostics. Contact Dr. Vincelli.