She earned a B.A. from Oberlin College and Ph.D. from Cornell University. Her research group applies systems-based approaches to improving the resilience of cropping systems, including topics of crop diversity, soil health, nutrient and water management, and climate change adaptation strategies. Her work spans from on-farm research to greenhouse and modeling studies. Due to the critical role social and economic systems play in shaping agriculture, she also collaborates on broader, multi-disciplinary food systems research.