SBAR - Key Persons

Aaron Szczepanek

Job Titles:

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Adah Gellis

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Alan Daugherty

Job Titles:

Science Teacher for Melrose Junior High and High School in Melrose

Alan Daugherty is the Science teacher for Melrose Junior High and High School in Melrose, New Mexico. Over the past 25 years he has taught courses in General Science, Earth Science, Biology, Advanced Biology, Physical Science, Physics, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Science Technology, and Agricultural Science, as well as numerous other special topic courses for students over the years based upon their individual needs. While working in this small rural school, Alan also directs a Science Club, has been involved in coaching, manages the school's concession stand at ballgames, and drives a school bus route. Alan's agricultural background, from his youth growing up on the family ranch, to his several years as working as an Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor in Yuma, Arizona, has helped him in many of his projects and activities with his students. A strong believer in 'hands on' education, Mr. Daugherty has proven that he is willing to work with and for his students to further their educational abilities and meet their goals in life.

Alberto Lorenzo

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Alejandra Trejo

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New Mexico State University

Ali Yaylali

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Student in Language, Reading

Ali Yaylali is a PhD student in Language, Reading, and Culture Program. He taught ESL in Arizona's public schools and literacy organizations for nine years. He is very interested in literacy skills in science classrooms and multilingual students' learning of science and scientific language. Specifically, he is studying how multilingual students' scientific writing ability develops during high school years. He is studying ways and methodologies to investigate the values, epistemologies, knowledge structures, and language of science that English learners/bilingual students need to master. He considers writing an important literacy skill that allows science learners to revise, clarify, and communicate their thinking and concept knowledge. The SBAR project allowed for engagement in science discussions and provided an opportunity to connect with high school learners. SBAR project also contributed to biology students' understanding of how environmental matters and issues can be addressed through biological concepts. In addition, students developed their interdisciplinary skills to apply biological concepts into problem solving in the Southwest's arid environments. As a SBAR graduate fellow, he is very excited to introduce environmental science themes and science literacy skills in secondary classrooms.

Alix Knagg

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Alix Rogstad - COO

Job Titles:

Director of Operations

Alix Rogstad serves as the Director of Operations for SBAR, handling all aspects of project-related administration, financial management, and business affairs. Alix brings a demonstrated history of working in government management and administration to the SBAR Team. She is skilled in strategic planning and leadership; funding acquisition and budget management; partnership development; building sustainable programs; natural resource management; and conservation issues. Prior to SBAR, she was the Urban & Community Forestry Program Lead for Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, where she worked directly with partners to build healthy and sustainable communities by promoting urban forestry awareness and by fostering local action. She has also worked as an Arizona Cooperative Extension Agent (facilitating wildfire education, prevention, mitigation, and rehabilitation); and as an independent consultant throughout the Western United States, in Bavaria Germany, and in the Republic of Ireland on a variety of natural resource management issues including: forest management, wildlife biology, rangeland inventory and monitoring, invasive species management, and land rehabilitation following tactical military training maneuvers. Alix holds a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University and a MS in Rangeland and Forest Management from the University of Arizona. Alix has a keen interest in broad-scale land management challenges and she enjoys working directly with people to devise new solutions to emerging natural resource issues.

Alonso Garcia

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Alvaro Romero

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Amber Dearstyne

Job Titles:

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Andrea Loya Lujan

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

April Wright

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Armando Barreto

Job Titles:

Adjunct Instructor and Associate Research Scientist in Agricultural - Biosystems Engineering at the University of Arizona

Armando is an Adjunct Instructor and Associate Research Scientist in Agricultural-Biosystems Engineering at the University of Arizona. He works with the Feedstock Development and Production Team to design and program irrigation trials for guayule and guar crops in Arizona and New Mexico.

Avery Luna

Job Titles:

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Barry Dungan

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Befekadu Habteyes

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New Mexico State University

Bill Goldner

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Member of the External Advisory Board

Brandon Bartelmie

Job Titles:

USDA - Agriculture Research Service ( WRRC )

Brandon Vera

Job Titles:

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Brian Treftz

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Brian is a graduate researcher and SBAR Fellow with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Chemical and Materials Engineering from New Mexico State University. Brian is an experienced Laboratory Assistant with a demonstrated history of working with thermochemical processing methods of biomass to be converted to fuel. He is skilled in Aspen Plus, Microsoft Word, Public Speaking, Reaction Kinetics, Transport Phenomena, and Heat Transfer. Brian's current research and thesis topic involves the characterization of guayule bagasse to determine its feasibility as a suitable biofuels feedstock. As well as doing research, Brian is an SBAR Graduate Fellow. As a fellow he is responsible for working with a middle school science teacher to develop experiments, activities, and demonstrations for her students. Education and outreach is an important part of the SBAR initiative and one that Brian is very excited to be a part of. He loves to golf, swim, and participate in intellectually stimulating conversations.

Brooke Silagy

Brooke Silagy received her B.S. in Chemistry from Michigan State University in 2016. After a break from academia, she is currently pursuing her M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Colorado State University. She works in Dr. Jason Quinn's group developing computer models to help understand the environmental impacts and economic viability of converting guayule into usable products.

Camila Prieto

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Catherine E. Brewer

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University / Principal Investigator

Cesar Martinez-Bejarano

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Chen Dong

Job Titles:

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Chris Cassidy

Job Titles:

Member of the External Advisory Board
Advisor Alumni

Claudia Galvan

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Colleen McMahan

Job Titles:

USDA - Agricultural Research Service / Principal Investigator

Craig Bal

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UA Master 's Student in Education ) Leads Students in a Bioenergy Lesson

Craig Bal (UA Master's student in Education) leads students in a bioenergy lesson

Cristina Benitez

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Dante Placido

Job Titles:

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Darien Pruitt

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

David Dierig

Job Titles:

Principal Investigator

David Struthers

Job Titles:

New Mexico State University

Dennis T. Ray

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Principal Investigator

Dominic Flores

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New Mexico State University

Doug Hunsaker

Job Titles:

USDA - Agricultural Research Service

Dr. Amy Landis

Job Titles:

Professor in Civil and Environmental

Dr. Amy Landis is a Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Presidential Faculty Fellow for Access, Attainment and Diversity at Colorado School of Mines. She has a well-developed research program in sustainable engineering of bioproducts. Her research ranges from design of systems based on industrial ecology and byproduct synergies, life cycle and sustainability assessments of biopolymers and biofuels, and design and analysis of sustainable solutions for health care.

Dr. Kimberly Ogden

Job Titles:

Principal Investigator
Lead Principal Investigator and Executive Project Director

Kimberly Ogden, Ph.D. is the SBAR Lead Principle Investigator and Executive Project Director. She is a professor of chemical and environmental engineering at the University of Arizona and director of the Institute for Energy Solutions. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Colorado. Her research focus includes bioreactor design for production of alternative fuels from algae and sweet sorghum, microbiological water quality, and process design.