Our People
Find University of Idaho Extension faculty and staff by selecting the letter of their last name.
Agenbroad, Ariel
Area Extension Educator, Community Food Systems and Small Farms
Ariel leads and facilitates collaborative, multidisciplinary and multifaceted applied research and education in community food systems and small farms for Payette, Gem, Canyon, Ada, Owyhee and Elmore.
Amende, Jackie
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
Jackie Amende specializes in family and consumer sciences for Canyon County. She is a registered dietitian nutritionist focusing on nutrition and health programming.
Baker, Sarah
Extension Educator
I provide programming focusing on livestock, range management and 4-H youth development. I conduct educational beef cutting demonstrations that focus on end-product quality, and collect carcass data for numerous fairs.
Balderrama, Teresa
4-H Program Coordinator
Teresa provides leadership for various aspects of day-to-day 4-H operations in Kootenai County, including enrollment, volunteer training, dog program and a variety of local educational events.
Barlow, Mashelle
4-H Program Coordinator
Mashelle’s mission is to motivate, involve and encourage 4-H youth and adults so they can build teamwork, self-confidence and succeed in ventures within the 4-H program.
Bass, Phil
Assistant Professor - Meat Science
Phil applies industry experience to teach, advise students and others involved in the Pacific Northwest meat production and processing community; conducts applied research in meat quality with emphasis in beef.
Baumgartner, Robin
Science Programs Coordinator, 4-H Youth Development
Ms. Baumgartner currently serves as the Affiliate Partner for FIRST LEGO League Jr., FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge programs in Idaho.
Bell, Susan
Extension Educator, Horticulture
Susan is a leader in consumer and commercial horticultural education and provides practical educational programming for Ada County (Boise) and surrounding counties. Susan collaborates with Extension faculty in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon, along with state and county agencies, city departments, and private businesses and civic groups to deliver programming. She directs a variety of Idaho Master Gardener programs and trains and supervises 100 volunteers annually.
Bingham, Andrew
Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences and Financial Management, Ada County Chair
Andrew is an Extension educator with a focus on financial management. Based in Ada County, Andrew works with community partners to provide financial literacy programs to individuals in need. He serves as chair for UI Extension, Ada County.
Blanch, Leslee
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
I am a registered dietitian nutritionist licensed with the State of Idaho Board of Medicine. I also hold fitness certifications in group/aquatic fitness, yoga and senior exercise instruction.
Brooks, Randall
Professor, Extension Forestry Specialist
Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences
Buck, Julie
Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences
Julie's programming areas include health, nutrition, food safety, 4-H youth development and Bingham county chair. Julie is a registered dietitian nutritionist and previously worked as a nutrition faculty member at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
Bywater, Jeni
4-H Program Coordinator
Jeni grew up on a farm in Minidoka County. She was very active in 4-H, taking on all sorts of projects, with her favorite being sheep. After many years of picking rock and thinning sugarbeets, she attended Boise State University’s Technical School in Business and Office Education. Jeni was ecstatic to be hired as Minidoka County’s 4-H program coordinator in 1993 and continues to “Make the Best Better."
Cantley, Catherine
Assistant Professor
Catherine works with Idaho food manufacturers to improve their products, processes and cultures. She collaborates with commissions and consortiums that interact with food manufacturers to assist in reaching industry-wide opportunities.
Carleton, Kara
Idaho Master Gardener Program Coordinator
Kara empowers a team of 60 plus volunteers to provide educational outreach and research-based solutions that address a variety of home horticultural, lawn and garden challenges facing local citizens.
Church, James
Extension Educator, Idaho County
Jim provides educational programs for commercial livestock producers in northern Idaho. He specializes in beef cattle production, marketing and management; and manages the 4-H animal science program.
Clements, Justin
Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist — Entomology
Justin is an entomologist interested in supporting integrated pest management of insect and mite pests of vegetable and field crops within the state of Idaho through his research and Extension program.
Dalton, Joseph
Professor, Dairy Extension Specialist
Dalton’s research is focused on increasing the efficiency of artificial insemination in dairy cattle, including sperm dosage, heat detection accuracy, synchronization programs, AI technician proficiency and identification of fertility markers.
de Haro-Martí, Mario
Extension Educator
Mario works helping Idaho producers to manage and reduce the environmental impact of their livestock and farming operations while increasing their productivity, sustainability and workforce education.
DePhelps, Colette
Area Extension Educator, Community Food Systems
DePhelps’ specializes in community food systems; small farms; organizational development, strategic planning and facilitation. She advocates for and uses community-based, participatory approaches to education and research to develop timely, relevant and impactful programs.
Dolecheck, Suzann
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Suzann provides leadership and supervision for University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development in Twin Falls County. She collaborates with regional university faculty and community partners to design, implement and evaluate multi-county programming that promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Duellman, Kasia
Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist — Seed Potato
Kasia’s research focuses on seed potato production, with the overall goal of improving quality. Specific emphasis is on pathogens important to seed potato production and seed health and seed-related aspects of commercial potato production.
Ekins, Jim
Area Water Educator
Jim has a natural resource degree from Western Carolina University and a master's in natural resources planning from University of Oregon. He worked in three national parks, on a research base in Antarctica and in wetland restoration for watershed councils in Oregon and Idaho. He's an avid canoeist, skier and runner.
Ellis, Lance
Extension Educator
Lance specializes in home and commercial horticulture, small acreage farming, general agriculture and poultry. He teaches agriculture classes in both English and Spanish related to grain, forage and livestock.
Ellison, Melinda
Assistant Professor — Range Livestock & Sheep Extension Specialist
Ellison's research focuses primarily on the effects of grazing livestock on wildlife and range.
Erickson, Luke
Associate Professor, Personal Finance Extension Specialist
My interests include personal finance, with an emphasis on youth education. Areas of expertise include credit building, credit scores, investing for retirement, withdrawal strategies, financial goal setting and emergency preparedness.
Ewers, Timothy G.
Extension Specialist — 4-H Youth Development
Science, technology and aerospace.
Findlay, Reed
Extension Educator, Crops and Horticulture
Reed Findlay graduated from Brigham Young University with a master’s degree in agronomy in 1993. He began his career as an agricultural Extension educator with Montana State University working out of Rosebud and Treasure counties. He currently serves with the University of Idaho as a crops and horticulture Extension educator and county chair in Bannock and Bingham counties.
Finkelnburg, Douglas
Area Extension Educator, Cropping Systems
Finkelnburg supports dryland cropping systems activities throughout northern Idaho. His collaborative approaches to deliver unbiased university driven research to agricultural producers and agricultural industry partners to solve ongoing production challenges.
Foist, Laura
Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences and Eat Smart Idaho Administrator
Laura has a background in food and nutrition. She specializes in helping people learn how to eat healthy and safe. She also administers the Eat Smart Idaho program in the Eastern Idaho District. Eat Smart Idaho helps low income families learn techniques for buying, preparing and eating healthy foods on a limited budget.
Fornshell, Gary
Extension Educator, Aquaculture
Gary has formed close ties with the aquaculture industry and others involved with aquaculture to be able to develop and implement an aquaculture program. The program addresses water quality and quantity, feeds and nutrition, seafood education and aquatic animal health. He works closely with the outside agencies, UI Extension and research faculty and the aquaculture industry, which is concentrated in Twin Falls, Jerome and Gooding counties. The educational programs he teaches to youth take place at Natural Resources Camp, and are related to aquaculture to include water quality, aquatic ecology and fish biology.
Gardiner, Kali
Eat Smart Idaho Program Coordinator
Kali oversees day to day operations, including monitoring program delivery and data collection compliance, supervision and training of Eat Smart Idaho staff and assisting to build and enrich partnerships with agencies.
Ghimire, Nav
Associate Director of UI Extension
Nav’s experience includes impact evaluation, program design, implementation and adult education. His focus is building evaluation capacity of Extension educators and increase their ability to document program impacts that meet the needs of local, state and federal stakeholders.
Gillespie, Donna
Regional Youth Development Educator
Donna provides statewide leadership in 4-H citizenship and civic education, personal development and leadership. She partners with 4-H professionals in youth development programming throughout central Idaho.
Glaze, Benton
Beef Extension Specialist and Professor
Ben focuses on breeding and genetics, beef quality assurance, general management and reproduction. He serves as a resource for beef producers, allied industries, veterinarians, Extension educators and the general public.
Hall, John
Superintendent; Cattle Management Lead, Rinker Rock Creek Ranch
The center is the University of Idaho’s primary cow/calf and forage research center. John’s program conducts applied research to enhance food production and sustainability of beef production operations.
Hamilton, Melissa
Extension Educator, Community Development and Agriculture
Melissa's interests are on rural regional planning, multi-modal transportation systems, asset/value based development, meeting facilitation and community food systems.
Hamlett, Janna
Clinical faculty, Extension Food Processing Specialist
Janna works and assists the local food processing industry through HelpTech, UI Extension and UI-WSU food science.
Hart, Ken
Extension Educator and Professor
Ken's work focuses on Lewis County 4-H and CL2N 4-H Camp, production agriculture and small acreage farming in Lewis/Idaho counties, and farm financial management education in north central Idaho.
Hatzenbuehler, Patrick
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
Patrick performs evidence-based research and extension work on agricultural commodity markets with a focus on market structure and conditions for crops grown in Idaho.
Heckman, Susie
4-H Coordinator
Susie provides the framework for UI Extension 4-H Youth Development programming in local 4-H activities, organizes and conducts leader training classes, working with leaders and youth and providing educational resources.
Ho Kim, Jang
Assistant Professor, Food Safety Extension Specialist
Jang is an experienced food scientist. He provides evidence-based educational information related to value-added processing and consumer food safety on home food preservation, sanitation, food handling, food recalls and warnings.
Hoffman, Katie
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
Katie was born and raised in the Lemhi Valley and has been working with youth and families since 2008 as a family and consumer sciences Extension educator in the Lemhi County's UI Extension office.
Howell, Michael
Northern District Director
Mike provides leadership for the University of Idaho Extension programs in the northern district. In that role he provides leadership and administrative function for hiring and supervision of Extension educators, budget and evaluation, promotion and tenure and building relationships with stakeholders and other partners in the ten county region.
Hulet, Ph.D., April
Research Assistant Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Management and Extension Specialist
Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences
Hutchings , Becky
Extension Educator
Major responsibilities include nutrition, health, food safety, volunteer development and 4-H youth development educational programming. This includes assessment and development of programs within Minidoka County and southern district.
Hutchinson, Pamela J.S.
Associate Professor, Extension Specialist — Potato Cropping Systems Weed Scientist
Jayo, Cammie
Eat Smart Idaho Program Coordinator
Cammie coordinates the Eat Smart Idaho program in the southern district; responsible for nutrition advisors; and is the liaison between outside agencies and various University of Idaho departments.
Jeffries, Erika (Thiel)
IT and Curriculum Specialist
Erika has a robust youth development career. She directs all things technology for Idaho's 4-H including 4-H Online and the 4-H website. She oversees all 4-H curriculum She supports teen leadership programming, is a trained art educator, former VP of marketing and has graphic design experience.
Jensen, Jennifer
Extension Educator — Horticulture and Small Acreage Farms
Jensen’s teaching experience includes Extension classes and workshops for adults and children in horticulture and small acreage farm production. She serves the citizens of Bonner County with one-on-one consultations for garden and vegetable production matters.
Jensen, Kirstin
Extension Educator, Health & Fitness/Nutrition, Associate Professor
Kirstin has served as an Extension educator in Idaho County since 2008 with an emphasis in family and consumer sciences. She offers programming in health, nutrition and fitness to all community members, schools and businesses.
Jensen, K. Scott
Extension Educator, County Chair
Scott conducts applied research and extension programs in beef cattle, range and pasture management. He co-coordinates the Idaho Beef Quality Assurance program and conducts the longstanding Lost Rivers Grazing Academy. He provides BQA, AI, milker and calving schools in Spanish.
Johnson, Shelly
Extension Educator — Family & Consumer Sciences
Shelly specializes in nutrition, health promotion/wellness programs. She is known for programming in obesity prevention, healthy food pantries, Smarter Lunchroom, senior nutrition, diabetes and nutrition education for low income families.
Kinder, Cindy
Extension Educator
Kinder grew up on a commercial cattle ranch and feedlot and raised registered Black Angus cattle for her 4-H and FFA projects. She was and is very active in 4-H, FFA and National Jr. Angus Associations as a member and now as a volunteer. Kinder loves to provide opportunities to youth and families learning about their animal projects, particularly with feeding, giving shots and quality assurance. She also likes to have youth discover things, which is why she created animal science experiments.
Lewin, Paul
Extension Specialist, Associate Professor; Director of Rural Studies Program
Liang, Xi
Associate Professor, Cropping Systems Agronomy
Xi Liang is leading a Cropping Systems Agronomy program with focuses on crop physiology in response to abiotic and biotic stresses, irrigation management and alternative crop agronomy (e.g., cover crops and quinoa).
Lide, Chen
Associate Professor, Waste Management Engineer
Chen’s research and extension focus on value-added products from waste, mitigation of environmental impacts caused by waste, and dissemination of science-based information to help stakeholders make informed decisions, leading to positive changes.
Lindstrom, James
4-H Youth Development Director
Currently the program director for the University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development program, Lindstrom brings over thirty-five years of professional experience to this role. He has engaged in 4-H program development in Montana, Arizona, Washington and now Idaho. Lindstrom currently represents the United States on the Global 4-H Network Board.
Mahler, Robert
Professor — Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences
Robert conducts research on water quality and water quantity water resource issues in Idaho. In addition to public perceptions, priorities and actions taken to address water resource issues in the Pacific Northwest.
Martinez, Sendy
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Sendy Martinez works in Ada County as the 4-H Extension educator. Her responsibilities include 4-H youth development programming for underserved and minority audiences in both Ada County and Canyon County.
Mayes, Iris
Extension Educator, Horticulture & Small Farms
Iris leads community-level Extension efforts in small farms and horticulture for Latah County.
Mills, Rebecca
Extension Educator, Livestock and 4-H Youth Development
Rebecca's focus in Gem and Boise counties and within the southern district is livestock, small farms and 4-H youth development programming.
Momont, Patrick
Southern District Director; Superintendent
Pat’s experience includes serving as a state beef Extension specialist, conducting joint research and extension projects involving cow nutrition, grazing behavior, retained ownership and alternative forages.
Morrisroe-Aman, Bridget
Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences
Ms. Morrisroe-Aman is a family and consumer sciences (FCS) assistant professor, in Ada County, focused on nutrition, health and food safety. She leads the district Diabetes Prevention Program and co-leads the district Master Food Safety Advisor volunteer programs.
Nash, Scott
Regional 4-H Youth Development Educator
Scott joined the University of Idaho in 1995. He is a regional youth development educator providing 4-H leadership in 14 eastern Idaho counties and statewide leadership in 4-H animal science.
Neibling, Howard
Associate Professor, Extension Specialist — Water Management Engineer
Neibling serves as the state irrigation specialist for University of Idaho Extension. In this role, he delivers educational programs, develops extension materials, works with county faculty and participates in farm visits.
Nomee, Shaina
Associate Extension Tribal Educator
Our role is to continue providing leadership through development, partnership, education and collaboration that support our youth on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation through 4-H enrichment and Coeur d'Alene tribal culture.
Packham, Joel
Extension Educator
I teach farm and ranch financial management in connection with estate/succession planning and also the use of grazing cover crops for soil management. 4-H livestock is my area of expertise.
Painter, Kate
Extension Educator — Agriculture
Kate provides educational programming in farm management, cereal and forage production, livestock production, horticulture and small farm production. She also offers training for the Idaho Master Gardener program.
Patterson, Ron
Extension Educator, Horticulture/Agriculture
Ron has extensive experience in horticulture and agriculture, with emphasis in weed control, and beneficial and pest insects.
Peavler, Deborah
4-H Coordinator
Deborah works to plan and assist in 4-H programming and events in Gooding County.
Peutz, Joey
Extension Educator
Joey Peutz serves as the county chair as she develops, teaches and evaluates nutrition and food safety programs for adults and children in Payette County and a nine-county district.
Prather, Timothy
Professor and Senior Associate Director of the U of I Rangeland Center
Qualls, Ph.D., P.E., Russell
Associate Professor, Idaho State Climatologist
Campus: Moscow
Courses: environmental hydrology, northwest climate and water resources change, engineering fluid mechanics
Areas of Expertise: satellite remote sensing of mountain snowpack, snowmelt runoff modeling, modeling of evapotranspiration
Richel, Karen
Extension Educator — Financial Literacy
Karen specializes in basic financial education for every age and socioeconomic group by offering classes, workshops and simulations on topics ranging from budgeting to end-of-life planning.
Robertson, Amy
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences & 4-H
Amy provides a variety of workshops, classes and other learning opportunities in food safety, nutrition and healthy living. She also organizes and implements 4-H youth development events for local youth.
Ruth, Alaena
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Alaena has an extensive background in animal science. She has interests in livestock production and management as well as meat science. She enjoys teaching and speaking about STEM education and quality assurance.
Sagers, Joseph
Extension Educator — Agronomy
Joseph provides programming in farm management, livestock, cereal and forage production, plant and insect identification.
Sant, M.S., R.D.N., Laura
Extension Educator — Health/Nutrition/Food Safety and 4-H
Laura is a registered dietitian nutritionist and licensed dietitian in Idaho. She provides community education to residents in Franklin County and is nationally recognized for her work in health, nutrition and food safety.
Schnepf, Chris
Area Extension Educator, Forestry and Professor
Chris provides a variety of learning opportunities on applied forest ecology and silviculture for family forest owners, loggers and professional foresters throughout the Idaho Panhandle.
Schoenfelder, Judith
4-H Program Specialist
Military partnerships, international exchange and out-of-school partnerships.
Schott, Linda
Assistant Professor, Nutrient and Waste Management Extension Specialist
Linda specializes on addressing the needs of stakeholders in southern Idaho related to the impacts of nutrient and livestock waste management and other land management practices on soil health and water quality.
Schroeder, Kurtis
Cropping Systems Agronomist, Associate Professor
Kurtis’ research focus is improving cereal-based cropping systems through a combination of crop rotation, nutrient management and agronomic inputs. He directs the small grain and grain legume variety trials for northern Idaho.
Schwarzländer, Mark
Professor and Associate Director, Center for Research on Invasive Species
Shelstad, Nancy
Regional 4-H Youth Development Educator
Nancy has collaborated on a multi-state youth retention research project, written 4-H curriculum and provided leadership to develop the Idaho Build Your Future program and 20 4-H staff development modules.
Silkwood, Gail
Extension Educator
Gail provides leadership for the Benewah County 4-H, UpRiver Afterschool, youth development camps and the Idaho Master Gardeners of Benewah County. She also provides educational resources in agriculture and livestock topics.
Small, Meranda
Extension Educator
Programming efforts focus on beef cattle production with an emphasis on preparing cattle for the feed yard through preconditioning, beef quality assurance and general livestock production practices for 4-H youth.
Sorensen, Terrell
Extension Educator
Terrell’s focus is cereal grains, water, and water related issues, and the Farm Ranch Management team. He also coordinates the 4-H activities in the county.
Spear, Rhett
Assistant Professor
Agronomic and economic evaluations of new potato varieties through cultural management trials and new variety selection.
Spencer, Marnie R.
Eastern District Director
Marnie is the UI Extension eastern district director, supporting Extension educators in 14 counties and Fort Hall Reservation.
Stokes, Brad
Extension Educator
Brad is the UI Extension educator and county chair for Elmore County, focusing on food production systems, horticulture, 4-H and a passion for pollinators.
Taggart, Allen
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
I lead the 4-H Youth Development program in Ada County, build community partnerships, strengthen our volunteer base and increase funding for our programs. I work with community partners, adult volunteers and families to help more youth "make the best better."
Tifft, Kathee
Extension Educator, Community Development, Family and Consumer Sciences and County Chair
Toomey, Maureen
Area 4-H Youth Development Educator
Toomey directs the 4-H healthy living program building strong partnerships within and outside the university. She has diverse experiences working with rural communities and directing outreach to Latino youth and families.
Usabel, Nic
Extension Educator — Horticulture
Nic specializes in urban horticulture and directs the Idaho Master Gardener Program in training and supervising the volunteers within Canyon County. He is implementing a Junior Master Gardener program.
Vaughan, Chandra
Associate Extension Educator — 4-H Youth Development
Chandra provides leadership, instruction and support for 4-H Youth Development programs focusing on youth development, adult volunteer development, youth education program development, expanding partnerships and participation, and membership growth.
Walsh, Olga
Associate Professor, Extension Specialist — Cropping Systems Agronomy
Developing and delivering relevant research and educational programs in sustainable cropping systems using best management practices for important crops grown in Idaho.
Warren, Ph.D., William A.
Associate Professor and Extension Educator
Bill conducts programming in land-based economic development and land stewardship in Clearwater and nearby Idaho counties. Landowners learn how to generate income from their land while enhancing ecological benefits.
Werlin, Jennifer
Extension Educator, Community Food Systems
Jennifer provides educational programs associated with enhancing local agriculture, community food systems and 4-H Youth Development. Her interests include healthy seasonal cooking, gardening, season extension, food security and permaculture design.
Williams, Shannon
Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Shannon has a strong agriculture background from growing up on a small farm and being involved in a family ranch. Her degrees in animal science and human resources complement each other as she works with cattle producers, natural resource managers, 4-H members and community members. She is married, has two grown children and enjoys her job.
Willmore, Carmen
Extension Educator — Livestock and Forages
Carmen is the Extension educator in Lincoln County, located in Shoshone, ID. Her programming efforts focus on livestock and forage education for surrounding producers.
Wilson, Jim
Regional 4-H Youth Development Educator
As a member of the state 4-H Youth Development team, Jim provides leadership in program development and 4-H volunteer management for the 10 northern Idaho counties. He also provides statewide leadership for the Idaho 4-H horse and rapidly growing shooting sports programs.
Wilson, Sharla
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Sharla serves as the 4-H Extension educator for Kootenai County and is an assistant professor with the University of Idaho. Wilson oversees 4-H youth development programming in Kootenai and Shoshone counties.
Wittman, Grace
Extension Educator
I provide leadership in the areas of food safety, food preservation, nutrition and youth development. I focus primarily on food preservation classes, hand washing education and cooking skills classes.
Woodhall, James
Assistant Professor, Plant Pathologist
James offers a range of diagnostic tests and advice to growers. His research program characterizes plant pathogens and developing new diagnostic methods for diseases across a range of crops.