Department of Regenerative Organic Agriculture

Jodi HillChair of the Department of Regenerative Organic Agriculture, Director of the MS in Regenerative Organic Agriculture, Assistant Professor of of Regenerative Organic Agriculture

Jodi Hill has over a decade of experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in forestry, agriculture, and environmental science. Jodi specializes in agroforestry and has a BSAG in animal science, an MS in agriculture with an emphasis on beef cattle nutrition and forages, and a Ph.D. in forestry with an emphasis on silvopasture.

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Tyler Wilfley, MBADirector of the BA and the Certificate in Regenerative Organic Agriculture, Instructor of Sustainable Business

Tyler Wilfley is an experienced coordinator with a background in permaculture design, financial management, and sustainable community development. His past experience as a program manager in Northern Thailand included projects in permaculture design, eco-friendly infrastructure, and wildlife conservation. Tyler graduated summa cum laude from Illinois State University with a BA in Philosophy and received the outstanding student award for his MBA in Sustainable Business from Maharishi International University.

Steve McLaskey, PhDAssociate Professor of Horticulture

Steve received his PhD in horticulture from Cornell University in 1997 and has spent over 25 years farming vegetables in the Midwest. Steve brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the ROA team with his extensive knowledge in plant physiology, pest, and disease identification, biodynamic applications, and organic certification. He is also one of the lead organizers for the farm’s operational management and cropping strategy.

Yashu Sharma, PhDAdjunct Assistant Professor of Horticulture

Dr. Yashaswini Sharma is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Horticulture. She is an expert in the field of horticulture and has been involved in research and extension activities for more than 5 years at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad, India. She has been conducting research on medicinal herbs, conservation, and quality analysis of herbs for 10 years. She has been published in more than 20 research paper in peer-reviewed journals and presented papers at many national and international seminars. She has taught horticulture courses for the last five years on fundamentals of horticulture, plant propagation, fruits and vegetable production, commercial floriculture, ornamental horticulture and landscape gardening, spices and plantation crops, post-harvest technology, medicinal and aromatic crops, and high-tech horticulture.

Kris Johnson, MSAdjunct Instructor of Regenerative Organic Agriculture

Kris is a 4th generation Iowa farmer and manager at MIU’s Regenerative Organic Farm. Growing up on his family farm outside of Fairfield, crop production, animal husbandry, and equipment operation/maintenance were normal parts of his day-to-day life. Kris earned his MS in Regenerative Organic Agriculture after majoring in environmental science and sociology. He worked on organic farms and then started his own, Market Garden. He has extensive experience in machine maintenance, greenhouse operations, market gardening, and soil management.