Assistant Professor of Agroecology

Dr. Bybee-Finley leads the Agroecology Program, directs the Agroecology Education Farm at North Carolina State University, and teaches CS 230 and CS 430. Before joining NC State, Dr. Bybee-Finley worked as a Research Agroecologist for the Agricultural Research Service at the United States Department of Agriculture.

Her work focuses on crop diversification practices as an adaptation strategy to climate change. Her research interests include intercropping, cover cropping, and assessing the multifunctionality of cropping systems. Dr. Bybee-Finley engages with statistical modeling, field experiments, and integrating human dimensions into research about farming practices.

Agroecology Education Farm Manager

Sara began working at the farm as the Farm Manager in the spring of 2023. They grew up in New Bern, NC and graduated from Duke, where they worked on the Duke Campus Farm throughout their undergrad. Since graduating, they have worked on a variety of organic farms in NC.

They find growing food to be empowering and love sharing that experience with others. When they’re not at the farm, you can find Sara swimming, baking, and visiting their local library. Come by the Agroecology Education Farm and say hi!

Sustainable Agricultural Systems Unit Technician

Brian is a Granville County native, he grew up helping his grandparents raise cattle and tend vegetable and flower gardens, while also working on his grandfather’s land surveying crew. After early experience at a local strawberry farm and a decade in the restaurant industry, he returned to North Carolina to work at an organic farm in Rougemont.

Here, he developed a strong interest in organic agriculture, tractor operation, and the virtues of sun protection. On summer weekends, you might find him selling produce roadside near Oxford, exploring antique shops, or tracking down hole-in-the-wall restaurants on a road trip.

Agroecology Lab Coordinator

Josalyn graduated from NC State in 2026 with a B.S. in Crop and Soil Sciences with a concentration in Crop Biotechnology. She spent most of her time there with the Agroecology Club and NCSU Soil Judging Team, as well as working in the Sustainable Soil Fertility Lab.

She’s excited to be working with the Agroecology lab, as well as the Sustainable Agriculture Systems Unit as an Agronomy Intern. When she’s not digging in the soil, she enjoys hammocking, making art, drinking tea, or hanging with her friends and cat

PhD Student

Joy brings 25 years in tech finance and operations to her PhD research, studying how cover cropping systems build soil carbon, curb greenhouse gas losses, and make farms more resilient to a changing climate. Her research hits close to home: she and her teenage son are restoring 15 acres of Franklin County land, learning regenerative practices

one hard-won lesson at a time. When she’s not buried in research, coursework, or fieldwork, Joy is an audiobook fanatic, a tireless thrift-shop miner, and forever hoping she doesn’t run out of Duolingo streak freezes.

Masters Student

Frieda originally hails from California, but fell in love with agroecology at the University of Vermont, where she got her bachelors in Agroecology. She worked in the Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab at Cornell University

as well as on many diversified farms across the U.S. from Alaska to Colorado to Vermont. In her spare time you can find her biking, swimming, crafting, and cooking extravagant meals for her friends.

Masters Student

Lauren relocated from Southern Oregon to complete her Masters after nearly 20 years in product development. She is most passionate about the interconnected elements of our agricultural ecosystem, economics, and community.

Outside of spending her free time gardening with her husband and two pups, you’ll find her cooking, camping, exploring farmers markets, or road tripping (she’s seen 48 of 50 states!).

Masters Student

Emma calls Winston-Salem, NC her home but grew up traveling the world with her family, inspiring her to study Global Environments & Sustainability at the University of Virginia. Her passions for seed saving and climate activism were enriched by the seasons she spent working at vegetable farms.

Besides getting her hands in the dirt, Emma enjoys running, reading, embroidery, and attempting latte art.

Lead Data Scientist for D.R.I.V.E.S.

Dr. Katherine Muller is a free-range agroecologist and data scientist who leads data management and statistical analysis for the Diverse Rotations Improve Valuable Ecosystem Services (DRIVES) project.

Soil Scientist for D.R.I.V.E.S.

Dr. Kathryn White is a soil scientist with the D.R.I.V.E.S. Network. Her research investigates the long-term effects of cropping systems
management on soil C and N storage and cycling, soil health and fertility, crop yields, and farming system economic performance and stability.

She also uses process-based crop and soil models to assess weather effects on crop yields and to test adaptive management strategies to mitigate climate change stressors on crop performance. She previously worked as a Research Soil Scientist with the United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service and was the ARS Fellow with the USDA-Northeast Climate Hub.

Lauren Rouse

Agroecology Education Farm Apprentice

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[email protected]

Madelyn Cunningham

Agroecology Lab Coordinator

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[email protected]

Lauren Hooper

Data Analyst

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