Our People
Find University of Idaho Extension faculty and staff by selecting the letter of their last name.
Adjesiwor, Albert
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist
Albert is a weed scientist and extension specialist studying and disseminating information on best weed management practices in agronomic crops, mainly: sugarbeet, dry beans, corn and small grains.
Agenbroad, Ariel
Area Extension Educator — Community Food Systems & 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.
Amy, Rhonda
Office Manager
Rhonda maintains the office and the UI Extension, Benewah County website.
Baker, Sarah
Extension Educator
Sarah provides programming focusing on livestock, specifically end-product quality, as well as range management and 4-H youth development in Custer County..
Balderrama, Teresa
Extension Educator — 4-H Youth Development STEM
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.
Blanch, Leslee
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
Leslee is a registered dietitian and certified group fitness instructor providing nutrition, fitness and wellness classes for the community.
Bledsoe, Jacob W.
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist — Aquaculture Research
Jake works to improve economic and environmental sustainability of aquaculture production through applied research (fish microbiome, nutritional physiology, disease, genetics and water quality). Extension priorities included workforce development and marketing.
Bowen, Hadley
Brackenbury, Brandon
Extension Educator- Agriculture
Brandon's focus is farm/ranch management, production agriculture and 4-H. I am a veterinarian with 20 plus years of experience in production animal medicine.
Bregante, Erryn
Brooks, Randall
Professor, Extension Forestry Specialist
Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences
Buck, Julie
Extension Educator — Family & Consumer Sciences
Julie's programming areas include health, nutrition, food safety, 4-H youth development and is the Bingham County chair. Julie is a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Burt, Marcia
Bywater, Jeni
4-H Program Coordinator
Jeni provides support for the 4-H community in Minidoka County as a program coordinator since 1993 to “Make the Best Better."
Callister, David
Extension Educator and County Chair
David works to improve the agriculture and economic futures of Butte County working with adults and youth.
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.
Chapin, Calla
Eat Smart Idaho Program Coordinator
Oversee 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.
Chellappa, Jemila
Area Extension Educator
Jemila will prioritize education programs on community food production systems, and lead and facilitate collaborative, multidisciplinary and multifaceted applied research, and education programs in cropping systems for southwest Idaho.
Clarich, Carrie
Extension Educator — 4-H Youth Development
Carrie's programs focus on STEM, livestock, small animals, leadership, citizenship and going onto secondary education.
Coburn, Sally
Cochran, Audra
Extension Educator
Audra provides education programming and resources in farm and forestry topics for Clearwater County. She also provides leadership for the county 4-H program.
Cook, Nadine
4-H Program Coordinator
Coordinating and facilitating the 4-H Youth Development program in Elmore County. Helping our youth and leaders, achieve greatness through education, service and activities in the community.
Cosdon, Courtney
Soil Health Extension Instructor
Courtney fosters collaboration between farmers/producers and soil health professionals. She also creates and fills the gaps in regionally relevant soil health resources.
Crowley, Tamara (Tami)
4-H International Exchange Coordinator
Tami coordinates the 4-H International Exchange program for Idaho. She provides experience in project management and as a previous volunteer for the states 4-H International Exchange program.
Cummins, Heather
Dalton, Joseph
Professor & Extension Specialist — Dairy
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.
David, Kirk
David, Madeline
Davis, Jami
4-H Program Assistant
Jami provides outreach activities to the community and the Mountain Home Air Force Base. Her primary focus is camps and classes for youth and assisting with the 4-H program.
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 impactful programs.
DeWitt, Amy
Duellman, Kasia
Associate 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
Extension Educator — Area Water
Jim is the water educator for UI Extension. Jim runs the IDAH2O Master Water Stewards citizen science program, and in north Idaho, Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) programs.
Ellison, Melinda
Associate Professor & Extension Specialist — Range Livestock & Sheep
Ellison's research focuses primarily on the effects of grazing livestock on wildlife and range.
Erickson, Luke
Associate Professor & Extension Specialist — Personal Finance
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.
Espinoza, Tania
EXCITE Program Bilingual Education Specialist
Provides bilingual immunization education and support at community events and mobile clinics involved in the EXCITE project.
Evans, Danielle
Extension Educator — Horticulture
Danielle became an master gardener in 2020, and leads the Idaho Master Gardener program for the Nez Perce County area in serving the public with home horticulture needs.
Falcon-Brindis, Armando
Assistant Professor, Research Faculty & Extension Specialist — Entomology
Armando's expertise is in entomology and statistics to conduct basic and applied research but also to encourage students’ critical thinking.
Findlay, Reed
Extension Educator — Crops & Horticulture
Reed Findlay serves 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.
Fisher, MJ
UI Extension, Central District Director
MJ provides leadership and support for central district UI Extension educators. He’s also the Twin Falls R&E Center superintendent. His previous Extension work was around livestock production and promoting agriculture.
Fisher, Matt
Area Extension Educator — Agriculture, STEM
Matt focuses on agriculture literacy with an emphasis on STEM to increase youth access to agriculture and STEM education throughout Idaho.
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.
Gibbons, Jared
Extension Educator
Jared's primary focus and outreach is agronomy/cropping systems and 4-H. His other study areas include, regenerative agriculture, soil microbiology and horticulture.
Glaze, Benton
Professor & Extension Specialist — Beef
Benton 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.
Goetz, Tami
Regional Extension Educator — 4-H Youth Development
Goetz supports educators and coordinators of the northern district’s 4-H youth development programs and communities. Statewide responsibilities include offering leadership for 4-H shooting sports to foster positive experiences and outcomes.
Gosz, Rusty
UI Extension, Northern District Director
Provide programmatic vision and leadership in the northern Idaho extension to engage both the university and communities through research-based education to help build a thriving, prosperous, healthy Idaho.
Grasham, Polly
4-H Youth Development Instructor
Polly offers STEM programming for youth in Benewah County. You can find her at the "Makers Table" in St. Maries, engaging youth at day camps and supporting afterschool programs.
Greenway, Surine
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
Surine is a University of Idaho alum who enjoys working for University of Idaho Extension while working with consumers throughout Owyhee County and the southern region of Idaho.
Guyton, Stephanie
Instructional Coordinator — North Idaho
As the north Idaho instructional coordinator for UI Extension’s statewide Digital Economy Program, Stephanie’s helping further the program and connecting counties with relevant resources to reduce the digital divide.
Hall, John
Professor & Extension Specialist — Beef; 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 include rural regional planning, multi-modal transportation systems, asset/value based development, community food systems, and meeting facilitation and capacity building.
Hamlett, Janna
Clinical Faculty & Extension Specialist — Food Processing
Janna works and assists the local food processing industry through TechHelp, UI Extension and the Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences Department.
Hansen, Lance
Extension Educator and County Chair
Lance offers programs and classes that focus on financial literacy, 4-H youth development and food safety. He is the department chair for University of Idaho Extension in Madison County.
Hatzenbuehler, Patrick
Associate Professor & 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.
Hines, Steven
Extension Educator — Crops
Steven Hines is the crop educator for Jerome and Twin Falls counties. He works in the areas of forages, cereals, cover crops, farm management and farm succession.
Hobson, Shawna
Administrative Assistant
Shawna provides office support and engages with the community as a Master Food Safety advisor, teaching participants how to safely preserve food products.
Hoffman-McFarland, Katie
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
Katie currently serves the county of Lemhi in the areas of community development, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H youth development.
Howard, Tasha
Extension Educator and County Chair — Family & Consumer Sciences
Tasha's expertise is in behavioral health. She has a passion for teaching and helping others live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Howarth, Christa
Extension Instructor — Water Outreach
Christa delivers non-formal education programs focused on groundwater and water resources to youth and adults throughout southern Idaho. Christa is an affiliate member of the Idaho Water Resource Research Institute.
Humpherys, Dave
Noxious Weed Superintendent
Dave works with multiple state and federal agencies and local working groups to implement the noxious weed programs and projects.
Hutchinson, Pamela J.S.
Associate Professor & Extension Specialist — Potato Cropping Systems Weed Scientist
Jacobsen, Tom
Extension Educator — Horticulture & Small Farms, 4-H Youth Development
Tom is dedicated to advancing agricultural practices and community education through research, hands-on classes, and innovative programming, supporting clientele in sustainable gardening, crop management and youth development.
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.
Jensen, Jennifer
Extension Educator — Horticulture & Small Acreage Farms
Jensen provides 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 production matters.
Jensen, Kirstin
Extension Educator — Health & Fitness/Nutrition
Kirstin emphasis is family and consumer sciences. She offers programming in health, nutrition and fitness to all community members, schools and businesses.
Jensen, K. Scott
Area Range Extension Educator
Scott conducts applied research and extension programs in beef cattle, range and pasture management. He conducts the longstanding Lost Rivers Grazing Academy and range monitoring programs.
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/drives, smarter lunchroom, soccer for success, diabetes and nutrition education for low-income families.
Johnson, Rebekah
Administrative Specialist II
Rebekah helps the UI Extension educators with their 4-H programs, gardening and agriculture programs. Her duties include budgets, financial transactions and interaction with members of our community.
Kinder, Cindy
Extension Educator
Youth development and livestock Extension educator working with Gooding and Camas counties outreaching to schools, youth and adult organizations focusing on STEM, livestock, horse, leadership/workforce skills and higher education topics.
Knutz, Mike
Area Extension Educator — 4-H Youth Development
Mike Knutz supports statewide 4-H teen leadership programs and 4-H educators across central Idaho. Mike's passion is helping youth thrive through their 4-H experience.
Lancaster, Jamie
4-H Program Coordinator
Jamie loves helping 4-H members find opportunities to become involved and gain new skills.
Lee, Siew Guan
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
Siew Guan Lee is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Her programming areas include health, nutrition, food safety and 4-H youth development.
Lloyd, Kera
4-H Military Partnership Assistant
Kera provides programming through the Outreach to Military Youth program in east Idaho.
Loomis, Grant
Extension Educator
Grant offers programming for small farms, soil health and cover crops.
Manker, Gretchen
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
Gretchen is a family and consumer sciences Extension educator located in Jerome County. She is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and her focus is on health and nutrition programming.
Martinez, Sendy
Extension Educator, Senior Instructor
Sendy works as a 4-H associate Extension educator, senior instructor. Her responsibilities include 4-H youth development programming for underserved and minority audiences in both Ada and Canyon counties.
Mayes, Iris
Extension Educator — Small Farms & Horticulture
Iris leads community-level UI Extension efforts in small farms and horticulture for Latah County.
McConnell-Soong, Lindsey
Program Manager
Lindsey is the program manager for Idaho's Well Connected Communities Initiative and the EXCITE program (Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement).
Miller, Tina
Extension Educator — 4-H Youth Development
Tina has a love for the outdoors and animals. Through 4-H she teaches youth in non-traditional setting life skills that will help them thrive throughout their life.
Mills, Rebecca
Extension Educator — Livestock & 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
UI Extension, 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, Bridget
Extension Educator — Family and Consumer Sciences
Ms. Morrisroe 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.
Myers, Cheyanne
Extension Educator — Livestock & Small Acreage
Cheyanne runs educational programs focused on small acreage land ownership. She specializes in livestock nutrition and hosts programs for producers, both youth and adults, and advocates for women in agriculture.
Nash, Scott
Area Extension Educator
Scott provides 4-H leadership in 14 eastern Idaho counties as well as statewide leadership in 4-H animal science.
Padilla, Lucinda
Juntos Coordinator
Juntos Coordinator at South Hills Middle School at Twin Falls, Idaho
Patterson, Ron
Extension Educator — Horticulture/Agriculture
Ron has extensive experience in horticulture and agriculture, with emphasis in weed control, and beneficial and pest insects.
Peutz, Joey
Extension Educator
Joey Peutz works on behalf of youth and families around health and wellbeing. She focuses on building a culture of health and poverty informed agencies and communities.
Poulsen, Deanna
Extension Educator ― Family & Consumer Sciences
Deanna's focus is on the master food safety advisor program, providing food safety and preservation demonstrations, in educating youth financial literacy and 4-H youth development.
Pruitt, Sheila
Receptionist
Sheila is the primary receptionist and responsible for putting together the Extension Connections newsletter and assists with family and consumer sciences, agriculture, 4-H and the noxious weeds secretary.
Ramsey, Mitzi
Administrative Assistant
Mitzi provides administrative support for 4-H youth and programs provided by University of Idaho Extension, Minidoka County.
Reagan, Carol
4-H Program/Administrative Assistant
Carol assists in the 4-H programming and events in Camas County.
Richel, Karen
Extension Educator — Financial Literacy
Karen provides basic “K through Gray” financial education and counsels clients as an accredited financial counselor and a certified money coach for 10 north Idaho counties.
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.
Sagers, Joseph
Extension Educator — Agronomy
Joseph specializes in agronomy and livestock, with a emphasis on forage production, grazing management and Spanish programs.
Sant, Laura
Extension Educator — Health/Nutrition/Food Safety & 4-H
Laura provides community education to residents in Franklin County. She is also a registered dietitian nutritionist and licensed dietitian in Idaho and nationally recognized for her work.
Schnepf, Chris
Area Extension Educator — Forestry
Chris provides workshops, short courses, field days, publications, videos and other learning opportunities on applied forest ecology and silviculture for family forest owners, loggers and professional foresters.
Schoenfelder, Judith
4-H Program Specialist
Military partnerships, international exchange and out-of-school partnerships.
Schott, Linda
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist — Nutrient & Waste Management
Linda addresses 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.
Scott, Danielle
Extension Educator
Danielle has been in UI Extension since 2016. She has been in education since 1991. Her specialty areas include S.T.E.A.M. education, youth life skills and trauma resilience.
Serna, Ester
Responsibilities: Weed management, plant sampling, plant assessments, planting, harvest operations, post harvest processing, seed preparation.
Shelstad, Nancy
Acting 4-H Director & Area Extension Educator — 4-H Youth Development
Nancy provides leadership to design, develop and implement programs such as New 4-H Volunteer Orientation, innovative youth programming, orientation to 4-H and promotes Positive Youth Development in youth programming statewide.
Silkwood, Gail
Extension Educator
Gail provides leadership for the 4-H program, UpRiver Afterschool, youth development camps and teaches the master gardener program in Benewah County. She also provides educational resources in agriculture and livestock topics.
Simerlink, Anthony
Extension Educator
Anthony provides programming for Power County related to horticulture, 4-H and agriculture.
Small, Meranda
Extension Educator
Meranda provides education programming and resources focused on livestock topics, specifically beef cattle production. She also provides leadership for the county 4-H program.
Smith, Jenn
Extension Educator — Livestock and Range
Jenn is an University of Idaho alum and is passionate about agriculture advocacy and youth leadership development.
Smyer, Amber
Program Manager
As program manager for UI Extension’s statewide Digital Economy Program, Amber coordinates the development and delivery of relevant resources to reduce the digital divide for Idahoans.
Spackman, Jared
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist — Barley Agronomy
Jared researches sustainable irrigated and dryland barley production strategies with emphasis on soil nutrient management for yield, end-use quality (malt, feed and food), plant health, and soil and water quality.
Sparks, Rose
Enrichment Coordinator & Extension Assistant
Rose teaches the 4-H enrichment activities in area elementary schools.
Spencer, Marnie R.
UI Extension, Eastern District Director
Marnie is the University of Idaho Extension, Eastern District director, supporting Extension in 14 southeastern counties.
Sponseller, Claire
Area Extension Educator — 4-H STEM
Claire provides leadership for the Idaho Think Make Create Labs in addition to expanding resources and access to STEM education on a statewide level.
Stokes, Brad
Extension Educator — Horticulture
Brad specializes in horticulture and entomology, serving Canyon County and the Master Gardener program.
Teixeira, Gustavo
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist — Potato Postharvest Physiologist
My research addresses the challenges of reducing potato postharvest losses focusing on the physiological and biochemical modifications, and to create support for the Idaho potato growers, processors and shippers.
Thomas, Jason
Extension Educator
I deliver agricultural and STEM focused UI Extension programs to Idaho farmers and youth. My main emphasis is the Integrated Pest Management of insects and rodents.
Tienhaara, Natasha
4-H AmeriCorps State Program Coordinator
State coordinator for the 4-H AmeriCorps Grant program.
Tifft, Kathee
Extension Educator and County Chair — Community Development, Family & Consumer Sciences
Torbert, James “Jim”
Pest Control Coordinator
Jim works on different pest related projects and programs such as grasshoppers, Mormon crickets and mosquito abatement, to help Elmore County ranchers, farmers and citizens.
Tucker, Angela
Administrative Assistant
Angela maintains numerous grants over the years and keeps all the accounts in order for family and consumer sciences, agriculture, 4-H, 4-H Friday Friends and the noxious weed department.
Utt, Brian
Administrative Coordinator
Brian provides office management and budget monitoring. He assists in the development of educational program resources, marketing, registration, coordination and setup of workshops and seminars.
Vaughan, Chandra
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.
Wenninger, Erik
Professor & Extension Specialist, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator
Werlin, Jennifer
Extension Educator — Community Food Systems
Jennifer provides educational programs to enhance local agriculture, community food systems and 4-H youth development. Her interests include permaculture design, high-altitude gardening, seed saving, beekeeping and mindfulness in the workplace.
West, Andres “Andy”
Extension Educator — Horticulture
I use my experience and education in horticulture to teach the public about landscape sustainability through conservation, fruit and vegetable production, native plants and Waterwise landscaping.
Wickwar, Desireè
Program Manager — Integrated Pest Management-Extension Implementation Program
Desireè works with U of I experts to create and share resources that facilitate effective and sustainable pest management in agricultural and urban settings. Her background concerns insect ecology and management.
Williams, Shannon
Extension Educator & County Chair — Agriculture & Natural Resources
Shannon serves as county chair for UI Extension, Lemhi County. Her focus areas are beef production, noxious weeds, 4-H livestock and community leadership.
Willmore, Carmen
Extension Educator — Livestock & 4-H
Carmen provides educational opportunities related to livestock and 4-H youth development.
Windh, Jessica
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist — Rangeland & Natural Resource Economic
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.
Woodhouse, Becky
Eat Smart Idaho Program Coordinator
Responsible for coordinating Eat Smart Idaho program in Idaho’s eastern district. Works closely to train nutrition instructors, establish and maintain community partnerships, and ensure appropriate use of grant funds.
