OFFICERS
President

Tu Huynh.177
PhD candidate (Columbus) in Horticulture and Crop Science
BS Biology, Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX)
Advisor: Dr. Leah McHale
Project: Improving seed oil and protein contents in soybean through quantitative genetics and molecular genetics approaches
Hometown: Saigon, Vietnam
Vice President
John Ertle.6
PhD candidate (Columbus) in Horticulture and Crop Science
BS Biology, University of Akron (Akron. OH)
MS Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University (Columbus,OH)
Advisor: Dr. Cheri Kubota
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Treasurer and Fundraising Chair
Alysa Gauci.1
Dual MS (Columbus) in Horticulture and Crop Science and Agricultural Engineering
BS Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University (Auburn, AL)
Advisors: Dr. Alex Lindsey & Dr. John Fulton
Project: Determining the Scalability of Yield Monitor Data for On-Farm Research
Hometown: Elberta, AL
Secretary
Rachel Combs-Giroir.1
PhD student (Columbus) in Translational Plant Sciences
BS Biology, University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)
Advisors: Dr. Andrea Gschwend & Dr. Alex Lindsay
Project: Investigating the underlying genetics of flooding tolerance in pennycress
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Public Relations and Marketing Chair
EAC and Faculty Representative
Hannah Scheppler.1
PhD student (Columbus) in Horticulture and Crop Science
BS Biology, Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green OH)
MS Biology, Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Advisor: Dr. Andrea Gschwend
Project: Genetic basis of downy mildew resistance in wild grapevine
Hometown: Defiance, OH
Logistics Chair
Unfilled position
Contact one of us if you are interested. 😁
Orientation and Hospitality Chair
Jordan Hartman.635
PhD student (Columbus) in Horticulture and Crop Science
BS Biology, Wingate Univ (Wingate, NC)
MS Horticultural Science, NC State Univ (Raleigh, NC)
Advisor: Dr. Jessica Cooperstone
Project: elucidating the chemical and genetic basis for bitter taste in tomato
Hometown: Salisbury, NC
Graduate Studies Committee Representative
Gabriela (Gaby) Silva-Pumarada.1
Master’s student (Columbus) in Horticulture and Crop Science
BS Horticulture, University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez (Puerto Rico)
Advisor: Dr. Laura Lindsey
Project: Measuring biochar’s effects on corn growth, yield, and greenhouse gas emissions
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
EAC and Faculty Representative
Carlos Igancio.8
PhD Student (Wooster) in Horticulture and Crop Science
BS Biology, University of the Philippines Baguio (Baguio, Philippines)
MS Genetics and Computer Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños (Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines)
Advisor: Dr. Clay Sneller
Advisor
Regina VannHickok.1
HCS Graduate Studies Coordinator
HCS Internship Program Coordinator
Academic Program Manager, Administrator of the department’s academic program through assisting the Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies Committees.
MA, Public Policy and Administration, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
BFA, Theater, Otterbein College (Westerville, OH)
Advisor
Dr. Jessica Cooperstone.1
Assistant Professor in Horticulture and Crop Science & Food Science and Technology
BS Food Science, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
PhD Food Science & Technology, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
Student Advisor
Jack McCoy.766
PhD candidate (Columbus) in Horticulture and Crop Science
BS Horticulture, University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
MS Horticulture, New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM)
Advisors: Dr. Leah McHale & Dr. Kristin Mercer
Project: Evaluating drought adaptations and response to water deficit in chile pepper from the U.S. and Mexico
Hometown: Little Rock, AR