We create organisms that have never existed before. And we work hard, and it takes years, but at the end of the day, people are smiling and we all eat better.
Dr. William Tracy
William F. Tracy is a professor in the department of agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a sweet corn breeder and studies the genetics, biochemistry and physiology of sweet corn quality and productivity. He received a B.S. and M.S. in plant and soil science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Biometry from Cornell University.
STAFF
Tom Bryan, Ph.D.
Teaching Faculty
Biography:
Tom is a Teaching Faculty in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Science. Tom’s primary
role on campus is to serve students who are interested in sustainability and food systems. He
teaches and coordinates courses in the Organic Agriculture CerFficate Program and the
Agroecology M.S. program. He graduated from the Nelson InsFtute’s Environment and
Resources Ph.D. program in 2019 where he assessed the environmental impacts of meals and
diets. In his spare Fme, he enjoys farming vegetables, especially garlic and muskmelon.
Katie Peterman, M.S.
Program Manager
Biography:
Katie is the Program Manager for the UW Organic Collaborative in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Science. While getting her master’s degree in Sustainable Development Katie studied the links between sustainable agriculture, immigration, human rights and the environment. She quickly became passionate about organic agriculture and focused on getting involved on local, national and international levels. Having worked for Michael Fields Agricultural Institute and Organic Valley, Katie is excited to use her background and skills to positively influence CALS and UW-Madison students exploring alternative agriculture. Outside of work, she enjoys mountain biking, skiing, yoga, swimming, and doing anything outside. Originally from Green Bay, she now lives in Madison with her two kiddos and adorable black lab.
Pat Flannery, M.S.
Research Program Manager
Biography:
Pat has served as the Research Program Manager for Team Sweet since 2007. He has a BS degree in Agricultural Mechanization and Management and an MS in Agronomy both from UW-Madison.
Pat began working in the Department of Agronomy (now Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences) as a college freshman in 1984. Upon completion of his BS degree, he worked briefly in the commercial seed industry before returning to the department in a full-time capacity in 1988. Pat has worked with peas, soybeans, canola, and field corn during his career.
A native of Black Earth, WI, Pat has been fortunate to live and work in his home area.
Graduate Students
Zoe Lea Fess
Biography:
Haa hinikaragiwi, Hoocak raasara Wahopiga hingaire anaga maaixete raasara Zoega
hingaire. Niis hakiisuceja haci haje. Hello everyone, my name is Zoe Lea. I am Hoocak
and Prairie Band Potawatomi, and I am originally from Wisconsin Dells. For my
undergrad I attended Northern Michigan University and graduated with my Bachelor’s in
Environmental Studies and Sustainability. While I was there I conducted my senior
thesis on the effects of quality food accessibility in the Federal Distribution Program on
Indian Reservations, focusing on tribes in Michigan and Wisconsin. I am especially
interested in policy and advocacy when it comes to food sovereignty and hope to
continue this work at home in Wisconsin. Currently I am in the Agroecology master’s
program and am being advised by Dr. Tracy. In my previous work I have developed
relationships with tribes throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, South
Dakota and New Mexico. I hope that these connections grow throughout the duration of
this project and continue long after we have completed our respective degrees. I am
looking forward to working with all of you. Piinagigi.
Program:
M.S. Agroecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Advisor:
Bill Tracy, Ph.D.
Joseph Jean
Biography:
Joseph Jean (He/Him) is a mixed-indigenous (Díne descendent) Ph.D. student in
Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and works under Dr. Carolee
Dodge Francis, Civil Society and Community Studies, Department Chair. His research
aims to address social injustices and improve community health for Indigenous and
Queer communities with whom he identifies. He holds an M.P.H. from the University of
Nevada Las Vegas, where he specialized in social and behavioral health and biological
sciences. He has held various positions, including lecturer, teaching assistant, program
assistant, and research assistant for numerous University-affiliated centers, institutes,
and laboratories. His experiences include designing, collecting, and reporting on
qualitative and quantitative research methods. His academic and professional interests
include public health, evaluation, Indigenous frameworks, and health behavior theories.
Program:
Ph.D. Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Advisor:
Carolee Dodge Francis, Ph.D.
Tanikwah Lang
Biography:
Tanikwah is a citizen of the Klamath Tribes located in Southern Oregon. She has
previously worked with the Klamath Tribes Ambodat (of the water) department on
restoring the population of the sacred C’waam and Koptu (Lost River and Shortnose
sucker Fish). She has also interned with the USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations in
Washington D.C where she contributed to the Native Fish Initiative. This exploratory
initiative looks at ways USDA can support and uplift Indigenous, tribal, and rural
communities that depend on fisheries for their sustenance, culture, and economic
livelihood. Tanikwah also has experience hosting first food gatherings within her
community that emphasizes food as nutrition and connection to the land and each other.
She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences and a minor in sustainability
from the Oregon Institute of Technology. Tanikwah is currently in the Agroecology
Master’s program where she can bring her passion for Indigenous food sovereignty and
eagerness to build relationships with local tribal communities. She will be working with
Dr. Tracy to develop a holistic research project that is intersectional with many of the
aspects that traditional foods entail.
Program:
M.S. Agroecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Advisor:
Bill Tracy, Ph.D.
Andrea Garberding
Biography:
After working as a field crew member at Siena Farms in Western Massachusetts and a Research Associate at the Food Biotech startup Mori in Boston, I decided to pursue higher education within plant breeding and plant genetics. My research focuses on identifying explanations for low/no germination in field corn varieties released recently to market. My secondary research interest would be investigating the reasons behind kernel cracking in sweet corn. As a former farmer and food scientist, I bring a practical farmer centric mindset to my research, as well a food science informed lens.
Leading a harvest crew at Siena Farms gave me hands on experience working with over 150 varieties of vegetables at a small-scale hand harvest organic farm. This experience highlighted how important it is for plant breeders to collaborate with farmers to arrive at solutions for breeding environmentally relevant varieties. At Mori, I helped spearhead the Tender leaf application of silk protein based edible coatings on produce which extends the shelf life of fresh foods. Throughout my time as a research associate, I worked closely with leafy green growers in California, as well as produce processors in the northeast. I have been fortunate to experience many avenues of the food system, and look forward to meaningfully contributing to research with Dr. Tracy and Team Sweet.
Education:
PhD Candidate Plant Breeding Plant Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Science Biology, minor in Psychology, Syracuse University (2020)
Advisor:
Bill Tracy, Ph.D.
Research interests:
Plant breeding, physiology of germination, kernel cracking, genetic basis of germination.
Personal interests:
Cooking, baking, running, skateboarding, knitting, reading, video games.
Affiliations:
Alpha Chi Sigma
Orangeseeds
Young Farmers Association
Paul Lema
Biography:
Paul Lema grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and is a member of the Kichwa-Otavalo community of Peguche, Ecuador. Paul comes from a family of agricultural producers and seeks to continue in his family’s footsteps. He is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Masters in Biological Systems Engineering – Machinery Systems under the advisement of Dr. Brian Luck. Paul has extensive experience working with his own Kichwa communities in agricultural settings both in Ecuador and in America. His research focus is the appropriate incorporation of modern-day engineering technology into Indigenous cropping systems for the purpose of supporting and scaling Indigenous agriculture around the world. His understanding of corn as a relative and teacher will be important to conducting this research with Indigenous values always at the forefront of this work.
Program:
M.S. Biological Systems Engineering
Advisor:
Brian Luck, Ph.D.
Ting Liu
Biography:
Updates coming soon…
Program:
Ph.D. Agriculture and Applied Economics
Advisor:
Jeffrey Hadacheck, Ph.D.
Sagen Quale
Biography:
Boozhoo, Manoominike Ikwe indizhinikaaz maang indoodem, Gaa-Miskwaabikaang indoonjibaa. Hello, my name is She Who Harvests Wild Rice Woman, I am of the loon clan and am from Where The Cliffs Are Red, or the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. Sagen Lily Quale, Manoominike Ikwe, is a young farmer, ricer, activist and student who has spent most of her life growing up with and in the beautiful woods and lakes of Northern Wisconsin. Sagen is currently an Agroecology Master’s Student at the University of Wisconsin Madison. She is a first year student but has been working towards her project focused on interviewing people about manoomin (wild rice) and food sovereignty for the past year now. Sagen’s background is in the realm of social science and food systems. She spent her undergrad learning and understanding the challenges and implications that communities face regarding retaining and sustaining food sovereignty. She hopes to continue to expand her knowledge on the importance of creating relationships amongst the food we eat and is excited to learn from other tribes about their unique connections to their regional foods. Miigwech.
Program:
M.S. Agroecology
Advisor:
Bill Tracy, Ph.D.
Eva Weddell
Biography:
Haŋ Mitakiyapi, Weddell/Sully hemataŋhan na Inawaye kiŋ Monica niš unčiwaye kiŋ Winona Sully ewíčakiyapi. South Dakota hemataŋhan. Eva Weddell emakiyapi. Ihanktonwan Damakota. Aké wóunspekuwa hemača ye na čaŋtemawašte. Pidamayaye. Hello everyone, I am from the Weddell/Sully family and my mom’s name is Monica and my grandma’s name is Winona Sully. I am from South Dakota. My name is Eva Weddell and I am Ihanktonwan Dakota which is federally recognized as the Yankton Sioux Tribe. I am a student again and I am happy. Thank you. I’ve recently worked with a grassroots organization in the developing stages of a medicine garden. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to work with the Swinomish tribe and one of their traditional plants, Camas. The work included harvesting and creating contemporary recipes using Camas. Bill Tracy is my advisor in the Agroecology master’s program.
Program:
M.S. Agroecology
Advisor:
Bill Tracy, Ph.D.
Past Graduate Students
Elena Hill
Biography:
I am an enrolled citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and was raised on the Oneida reservation. My research focuses on Indigenous seed keepers and their communities. The intersectional nature of agroecology allows me to connect my business degree and farming background to my passion for food sovereignty and current studies.
Education:
M.S. Agroecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (current),
BBA Management and Human Resources, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2022).
Research Interests:
Seed and Food Sovereignty, Participatory Action Research, Organic Agriculture.
Personal Interests:
Beading, Aquarium Keeping, Traveling.
Seth J. Helfers
Biography:
My background is a mixture of agricultural and microbiology, and I am very
interested in plant-microbe relationships as well as the genetic factors affecting these interactions. Like many researchers in plant breeding, I have a strong interest in sustainable agriculture. Time spent volunteering in international agriculture made me want to work with globally relevant crops, like maize. With Team Sweet, I hope to contribute to sustainable sweet corn production by investigating resistance to emerging diseases.
Education:
M.S. Student/Research Assistant: Plant Breeding & Plant Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2023 – present),
B.S. Botany, Purdue University (2016).
Research Interests:
Seed and Food Sovereignty, Participatory Action Research, Organic Agriculture.
Personal interests:
Bicycling, fermentation, disc golf, film photography, mycology, ice skating, board games, cats.
Lexie Wilson
Biography:
I’m a PhD candidate in the Plant Breeding & Plant Genetics program. After graduating with a BA in Visual Art and Art History from University of Chicago, I worked on diversified organic vegetable farms in California and North Carolina. I then established and operated a bean-focused market farm for two years in Western North Carolina. Being a farmer opened my eyes to the importance of seed and how variety performance impacts communities. As a plant breeder, I feel fortunate to combine my loves of being in the field, engaging with people over food, and being creative. My PhD research focuses on breeding for organic agroecosystems, improving eating quality, and community-based approaches to breeding new vegetable varieties.
Education:
PhD Candidate, Plant Breeding & Plant Genetics, University of Wisconsin – Madison (2023),
Bachelor of Arts, Visual Art, Minor Art History, University of Chicago (2014)
Research Interests:
Plant Breeding, Participatory and Community-based approaches to plant variety development and food system improvement, Organic Agriculture, Agroecology, Nutrition.
Personal interests:
Cooking, cycling, fiber arts.
Affiliations:
National Association of Plant Breeders Agronomy, Crop, and Soil Science Societies of America.
Cathleen McCluskey
Biography:
My research and expertise focuses on seed systems and the culture of agriculture. As an 2 of 3 agroecologist, I am passionate about the significance of seed and agriculture in our societies. This vital sector provides us with sustenance, but we must understand the importance of nurturing the environment, and how the science, practice, and movement of seed work builds a foundation for our food system. Bountiful harvests and resilient seed systems require careful tending to a long-term focus on sustainability. Working in academia it’s clear that our history and future of agriculture is improved with
investments in public research and studies aimed at improving our understanding of
agroecological practices. This is an exciting area of growth, with new technologies and
innovations emerging every day. Working in non-profit organizations has highlighted how important it is to advocate for
policies that protect the livelihood of farmers, protect consumers, and support responsible
economies for the common good. Non-profits are helping to ensure the long-term health
and success of seed systems essential to our collective well-being.
I am honored to be a part of the seed community, and to have the opportunity to contribute
to its continued growth and success.
Education:
PhD Candidate Environment and Resources, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (2023),
Master of Science Agroecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2020),
Bachelor of Arts Agricultural Systems Analysis, The Evergreen State College (2010).
Research Interests:
Agroecology, Transdisciplinary research, Seed systems research, Germplasm
management, On-farm genetic diversity, Farmer-centric seed systems.
Personal interests:
Bike racing, Typewriters, Travel.
Affiliations:
Center for Culture, History, and Environment (CHE).
Carl Branch
https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21016
Biography:
After growing up on a small vegetable farm and studying plant biology in college, a graduate degree in plant breeding is a way for me to combine my interests and experiences in the pursuit of achieving tangible benefits for farmers. As an undergrad, I worked in labs attempting to breed field pennycress as a winter annual relay/cover crop in soybeans. At UW-Madison, I’ve been investigating the role of the sugary enhancer1 gene as a potential regulator of starch synthesis and secondary metabolism.
I’m also a part of the long-term selection project that Team Sweet has been doing. Using the Minnesota 11 maize population, we performed 20 cycles of divergent selection, selecting for either early or late vegetative phase change. Here, we were able to study the effects of altering vegetative phase change in maize, as well as probe the limits of selection.
Education:
PhD candiate, UW-Madison,
Master of Science Agroecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2020),
Bachelor of Science, Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Research Interests:
Starch synthesis, divergent selection, carotenoids.
Personal interests:
Sweet corn, cross country skiing, novel and pointless endurance events.
Affiliations:
Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics, Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences.
Heather Wodehouse
Biography:
Prior to commencing my graduate studies, I devoted seven years to managing a vegetable
CSA farm and apprenticeship program in upstate New York. While flavor and texture traits
were certainly crucial to our success, strong disease resistance and robust yield in the
varieties we cultivated were essential for enabling our small-scale organic production. In
particular, the incredible disease resistance I witnessed of cucumber to cucurbit downy
mildew was the catalyst for pursuing my interest in plant breeding.
My overarching area of interest lies in understanding the genetic factors that influence traits
critical to efficient and sustainable food production, including resistance to biotic and abiotic
stresses. The primary goal of my master’s research project is to determine the genetics
underpinning vegetative phase change in sweet corn. This fundamental research aims
to improve understanding of the sweet corn genome and ultimately advance applied
breeding. I further hope to quantify whether differences in phase change associated juvenile
leaf wax affect resistance to common rust.
Education:
Master of Science in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
(anticipated 2025),
Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environment, McGill University (2013).
Research Interests:
Genetics of vegetative phase change, genetics of disease resistance.