WESTERN DAIRY CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Interim Department Head
- Professor of Toxicology
Abby Benninghoff is a Professor of Toxicology and the Interim Head of the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences at Utah State University. Dr. Benninghoff joined Utah State in 2010 and maintains a multidisciplinary research program in toxicology, nutrition, and gut health. From 2018 to 2022, she served as as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Student Services for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, and then began her tenure as Interim Head for ADVS in 2022.
Research Interests
Research in Dr. Benninghoff's laboratory is multi-disciplinary, covering topics ranging from diet and cancer to mechanisms of genome reprogramming and gene regulation to toxicology. A major goal of Dr. Benninghoff's research program is to understand the influence of environmental factors on mechanisms of gene regulation in determining health and disease in animals and humans. Dr. Benninghoff's research program is currently supported by funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, the National Institutes of Health.
Ward, R.E, Benninghoff, A., Hintze, K.J, (2020). Food matrix and the microbiome: considerations for pre-clinical chronic disease studies. Nutrition Research, 78, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2020.02.012
Rodriguez, D., Benninghoff, A., Aardema, N., Phatak, S., Hintze, K.J, (2019). Basal diet determined long-term composition of the gut microbiome and mouse phenotype to a greater extent than fecal microbiome transfer from lean or obese human donors. Nutrients, 11:7, 1630. doi: doi.org/10.3390/nu11071630
Shi, B., Thomas, A., Benninghoff, A., Sessions, B., Meng, Q., Parasar, P., Rutigliano, H., White, K.L, Davies, C., (2018). Genetic and epigenetic regulation of major histocompatibility complex 1 class I gene expression in bovine trophoblast cells. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 79:e12779, 1-12. doi: 10.1111/aji.12779
Benninghoff, A., (2017). Data on the effect of in utero exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on genomewide patterns of DNA methylation in lung tissues. Data in Brief, 13, 498-513. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.04.047
Benninghoff, A., Lefevre, M., Hintze, K.J, Ward, R.E, Broadbent, J.R, (2015). Fighting cancer with functional foods: new approaches to investigate the interactions of dietary bioactive chemicals and the gut microbiome. Journal of Developments in Sustainable Agriculture, 10:1, 34-54. doi: 10.11178/jdsa.10.34
Hintze, K.J, Lefevre, M., Ward, R.E, Benninghoff, A., Broadbent, J.R, Cox, J., (2014). Broad scope method for creating humanized animal models for animal health and disease research through antibiotic treatment and human fecal transfer. Gut Microbes, 5, 183-191. doi: 10.4161/gmic.28403
Benninghoff, A., Bisson, W., Koch, D., Koluri, S.K, Williams, D.E, (2011). Estrogen-like activity of polyfluorinated chemicals in vivo and interaction with human and trout estrogen receptors in vitro. Toxicological Sciences, 120:1, 42-58. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfq379
Benninghoff, A., Williams, D.E, (2008). Identification of a transcriptional fingerprint of estrogen exposure in rainbow trout liver. Toxicological Sciences, 101:1, 65-80. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfm238
Job Titles:
- Teacher Education & Leadership, August 2011 - May 2015
Job Titles:
- Special Education & Rehab
Job Titles:
- Professor of Agricultural Education
Becki Lawver is a Professor of Agricultural Education and Department Head of the Applied Sciences, Technology, and Education Department.
Job Titles:
- Development Executive
- Director of Development
- Executive Director of Development / Development
Job Titles:
- Special Education & Rehab
Brian Warnick was raised in Wyoming and received bachelor's degrees in Secondary Education-Biology and Special Education and a master's degree in Agricultural Systems Technology, all from USU. He taught high school agriculture and biology in Box Elder School District for seven years before accepting a faculty position at Oregon State University where he earned a Ph.D. He has been a professor of agricultural education at Utah State University since 2004. From 2014-2022, he served as associate dean for academic programs in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and now heads the Department of Technology, Design, and Technical Education. He and his wife, Tami, live in Providence and have three children.
Despain, D., North, T., Warnick, B.K, Baggaley, J., (2016). Biology in the agriculture classroom: A descriptive comparative study. Journal of Agricultural Education/American Association for Agricultural Education , 57:1, 194-211. doi: doi: 10.5032/jae.2016.01194
Pate, M., Warnick, B.K, Meyers, T., (2012). Determining the critical skills beginning agriculture teachers need to successfully teach welding. Career and Technical Education Research, 37:2, 171-184.
Franklin, E.A, Warnick, B.K, Haverland, A.C, (2006). Is the doctor really in? Examining the ailments of mentoring relationships for new CTE teachers.. Techniques, 81:6, 44-46.
Job Titles:
- Teacher Education & Leadership, August 2008 - August 2011
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Research & Student Graduate Studies and Graduate Student Services
- Associate Dean for Research & Student Graduate Studies and Graduate Student Services / College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Job Titles:
- Professor Department Head
Schiwal, A.T, Fauth, E.B, Wengreen, H., (2020). The Gray Matters App targeting health behaviors associated with Alzheimer's risk: Improvements in intrinsic motivation and impact on diet quality and physical activity. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 24:8, 893-899. doi: 10.1007/s12603-020-1421-5
Jones, B.A, Madden, G., Wengreen, H., Fargo, J., Aguilar, S., (2016). A randomized-controlled trial of the Food Dudes Program: Tangible rewards are more effective than social rewards for increasing short- and long-term fruit and vegetable consumption.
Litchford, A. , Wengreen, H., (2016). Increasing learning potential in entry level nutrition students through online tutorial. . Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 6:1
Wengreen, H., Munger, R.G, Cutler, A., Quach, A., Bowles, A., Corcoran, C.D, Tschanz, J.T, Norton, M.C, Welsh-Bohmer, K., (2013). Prospective study of dietary approaches to stop hypertension- and mediterranean-style dietary patterns and age-related cognitive change: The Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98:5, 1263-1271. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.051276
Wagner, D.R, Larson, J.N, Wengreen, H., (2012). Weight and body composition change over a six-week holiday period. Eating & weight Disorders, 17, e54-e56.
Wengreen, H., (2007). Antioxidants intake from food and supplements and cognitive function among elderly participants of the Cache County Study on Memory Health and Aging. Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging, 119(3), 230.
Wengreen, H., Aguilar, S., Madden, G., Jones, B., (2014). Do the new nutrition standards help students to consume more fruits and vegetables?. Journal of Nutrition Education and behavior, 46, S150-151.
Brown, K., Wengreen, H., Christensen, N.K, (2011). Improving diets of college students: Survey of dietary habits and focus group perspectives on how to best teach students.. Academy Journals 2011, 1-7.
Wengreen, H., Nelson, C., Munger, R.G, Corcoran, C.D, (2009). Diet quality is associated with better cognitive test performance among aging men and women.. Journal of Nutrition, 139, 1944-9.
Job Titles:
- Department Head, Professor Inclusive Planning & Design
Wagner, D.R, Christensen, S., Blaney, P., Wengreen, H., others, , (2010). Weight and body composition change during the first year of college: A study of transitional residence hall freshmen.. International Journal of Body Composition Research, 8, 61-68.
Sharifi, M., Christensen, K., Chen, A., Song, Z., (2019). Exploring effects of environment density on heterogeneous populations' level of service perceptions. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 124, 115-127. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2019.03.007
Gaire, N., Song, Z., Christensen, K., Sharifi, M.S, Chen, A., (2018). Exit choice behavior of pedestrians involving individuals with disabilities during building evacuations. Transportation Research Record, 2672, 22-29. doi: 10.1177/0361198118756875
Sharifi, M.S, Daniel, S., Christensen, K., Chen, A., (2016). Time headway modeling and capacity analysis of pedestrian facilities involving individuals with disabilities. Transportation Research Record, 16:2553, 41-51. doi: 10.3141/2553-05
Sharifi, M.S, Stuart, D., Christensen, K., Chen, A., Kim, Y., Chen, Y., (2015). Analysis of walking speeds involving individuals with disabilities in different indoor walking environments. Journal of Urban Planning and Development , doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000288
Jansuwan, S., Christensen, K., Chen, A., (2013). Assessing the transportation needs of low-mobility individuals: Case study of a small urban community in Utah. ASCE Urban Planning and Development, 139:2, 104-114. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000142
Christensen, K., (2009). Socially Equitable Community Planning; including individuals with disabilities in the democratic association of place. Review of Disability Studies, 5:3, 49-52.
Job Titles:
- Dean, Vice President, and Professor
- Dean, Vice President, and Professor / College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Expertise
Reproduction & Assisted Reproductive Technologies // Program goals: To understand genetic reprogramming in SCNT embryos; To improve the survival of SCNT fetuses; To explain the process of oocyte activation in cattle; To develop large animal models for biomedical research.
Wang, S., White, K.L, Bunch, T.D, Reed, W.A, Yue, C., (1993). The influence of bovine oviduct epithelium monolayer cell culture, fetal bovine serum and heparin on in vitro bovine oocyte fertilization. J. Anim. Sci.
Ha, A., Lee, S., Jeong-Seon, J., Han-Seul, P., Sang-HO, L., Jong-In, J., Sessions, B., Wang, Z., White, K.L, Kong, I., (2013). Development of a modified straw method for vitrification of in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts and various genes expression in between the methods. Cryobiology, doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2013.11.007
White, K.L, (2005). Cytogenetic analysis of diploidy in cloned bovine embryos using an improved air-dry karyotyping method. Theriogenology, 63, 2434-2444.
White, K.L, (1996). Use of neural networks in developing novel embryo culture media-formulations. Theriogenology, 45, 41-49.
White, K.L, (1995). Effect of serum extender containing growth factors on development of IVM and IVF bovine embryos. Theriogenology, 44, 423-432.
White, K.L, (1995). The existence of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and ryanodyne receptors in mature bovine oocytes. Development, 121 (8), 2645-2654.
White, K.L, (1993). Feeding tryptophan to seasonally anestrous mares: Ovarian characteristics and secretion of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone an dprolactin. J. Equine Vet. Sci.
White, K.L, (1997). Coculture of in vitro produced bovine ova with oviductal epithelial cells collected from the ampulla and isthmus at the follicular and luteal phases. Bio. Reprod. Vol. 56 (Suppl. 1):214 *
Anderson, B., Reed, W.A, White, K.L, Bunch, T.D, (1995). The effects of antioxidants on the growth and development of in vitro produced bovine embryos. Encyclia *
Job Titles:
- Staff Assistant II and Social Media Manager
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Assistant Professor in the Applied Sciences, Technology and Education
Lacee R. Boschetto is an assistant professor in the Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Department. She earned her doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Utah State University. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and has over 18 years of teaching experience in secondary and post-secondary environments. Her primary role at USU is serving as a teacher educator.
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Academic Programs
- Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Services L Director of MPH Program L Associate Professor / College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Dr. Mateja Savoie Roskos is the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Services in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS). Dr. Savoie Roskos is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science and the Director of the Master of Public Health Program.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Assistant Professor at Utah State University
Michelle Burrows is an assistant professor at Utah State University and is the Team Leader for the National Center for Agricultural Literacy (NCAL) which is housed at USU.
Dr. Burrows is an assistant professor whose research centers around agricultural education and literacy efforts preparing K-12 teachers, to address socioscientific issues in their classes.
McKim, A.J, Sorensen, T.J, Burrows, M., (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic and agricultural education: An exploration of challenges faced by agriculture teachers. Journal o Natural Sciences Education, 50:1, 1-10. doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20060
Hopkins, N., Sorensen, T.J, Burrows, M., Lawver, R.G, (2020). Happy spouse, happy greenhouse: Perceptions of the SBAE teacher's spouse regarding agricultural education as a career. Journal of Agricultural Education, 61:3, 194-213.
Job Titles:
- Department Head, Professor
Johnson, P.G, Priorities for turfgrass management and education to enhance urban sustainability worldwide.. Journal of Developments in Sustainable Agriculture, 8
Johnson, P.G, (2005). Effects of irrigation and mowing on species diversity of grass and wildflower mixtures for the Intermountain West.. Native Plants Journal, 5, in press.
Johnson, P.G, (2004). Soil-water-use characteristics of precision-irrigated buffalograss and Kentucky bluegrass.. Applied Turfgrass Science [on-line journal]
Johnson, P.G, Riordan, T.P, (2001). Unbalanced chromosome number and inbreeding effects on fertility and plant vigor in buffalograss. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 9, 176-179.
Johnson, P.G, Kopp, K., (2004). Maximum length of summer dormancy in Kentucky bluegrass without or with minimal irrigation. TurfNews [TPI] *
Job Titles:
- Department Head, Professor CTE, Ag Education, Leadership Education
Job Titles:
- Teacher Education & Leadership, August 2015 - July 2019
Job Titles:
- National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2006 / National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Job Titles:
- Department Head, Professor
Gumirakiza, J.D, Curtis, K., Bosworth, R.C, (2017). Consumer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Bundled Fresh Produce Claims . Journal of Food Products Marketing, 23:1, 61-79. doi: http://www.tandfonline.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the Vice President & Dean / College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Job Titles:
- Teacher Educator of the Year, 2023
Van Dyke, A., Johnson, P.G, Grossl, P.R, (2008). Humic substances effect on moisture retention and phosphorous uptake in Intermountain West putting greens. Applied Turfgrass Science, (online), doi: doi:10.1094/ATS-2008-1006-01-RS
Van Dyke, A., Johnson, P.G, Grossl, P., (2009). Influence of humic acid on water retention and nutrient uptake in simulated putting greens.. USGA Turfgrass and Environmantal Research, 8:12, 1-10.
Van Dyke, A., Johnson, P.G, Grossl, P., (2009). Humic substances effect on moisture retention, nutrition, and color of Intermountain West putting greens. USGA Turf & Environmental Research Online, 8:4, 1-9. doi: 10.1094/ATS-2008-1006-01-RS *
Van Dyke, A., Johnson, P.G, (2008). Influence of humic substances on moisture retention and phosphorous uptake of putting greens.. USGA Green Section Record, 42:2, 9-10.
Van Dyke, A., Johnson, P.G, (2007). Effect of humic substances on moisture retention of putting greens. Golf Course Management, 75:11, 96.