Faculty and Staff

Education:  

• B.S., North Dakota State University (Soil Science/Geology) 

• M.S., University of Minnesota (Soil Morphology) 

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Soil Physics) 

Classes Taught: 

• SOIL 120: Introductory Soil Science 

• SOIL 250: Soil Profile Descriptions 

• SOIL 350: Soil Development 

• SOIL 380: Soil Judging 

• SOIL 460: Soil Physical Properties and Environmental Quality 

• GEOL 101: Introductory Geology 

• GEOL 150: Geological Perspectives of Global Change 

• GEOL 327: Geomorphology and Glacial Geology 

Professional Bio:  

Dr. Holly Dolliver is a passionate educator who is deeply committed to the power of higher education and the mission of primarily undergraduate institutions. She focuses on creating authentic learning experiences through novel teaching approaches and mentoring students in field, judging, research and other high impact experiences. Her research interests include the effects of land use and land management practices on soil quality, carbon sequestration, nutrient/contaminant transport and the geology/geomorphology of western Wisconsin.  She is extensively engaged in community service and outreach where she shares her love of the local geology and natural history. Holly grew up on a small farm in central Minnesota, which cultivated her lifelong interest in the natural environment and is a first-generation college student. She is the recipient of the 2011 Keith Wurtz Award for innovation in teaching, 2016 Adviser of the Year and 2016 Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.  

Education: 

• B.S., North Dakota State University (Crop and Weed Science-Biotechnology)  

• College Teaching Certificate, North Dakota State University 

• Ph.D., North Dakota State University (Plant Pathology) 
   

Courses Taught: 

• PLSC 161: Introduction to Plant Science 

• CROP 260: Plant and Seed Identification 

• CROP 285: Seminar 

• BIOL 314: Introduction to Plant Pathology 

• CROP 345: Weed Control 

• CROP 451: Integrated Pest Management 

Professional Bio:
I have a passion for teaching and working with undergraduate students. In the classroom, I prioritize hands-on experiential learning that equips students for their future careers. Outside of the classroom, I lead an applied plant pathology laboratory that engages in undergraduate research. The direction of my research interests includes evaluating management strategies to better manage plant diseases in various cropping systems. Recent projects include screening genetic resistance for disease management, surveying pathogen and weed populations, and evaluating the efficacy of foliar and seed treatment fungicides. I have authored refereed publications (4) and proceedings publications (4). 

Education: 

• B.A., University of Minnesota-Morris (Biology)  

• M.S., University of Minnesota (Water Resources Science – Environmental Chemistry) 

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota University (Water Resources Science - Hydrology) 

  
Courses Taught: 

• ESM 105: Introduction to Environmental Studies 

• ESM 220: Environmental Sustainability: Theory, Issues, and Management 

• ESM 303: Environmental Policies and Administration 

• ESM 305: Environmental Impact Assessment 

• ESM 412: Chemical Fate and Transport in the Environment 

• ESM 413: Environmental Analysis 

Education: 

• B.S., Urmia University (Agricultural Engineering-Water Engineering)  

• M.S., University of Tehran (Irrigation and Drainage) 

• M.S., Cornell University (Environmental Engineering) 

• Ph.D., Cornell University (Environmental Engineering) 

Courses Taught: 

• ENVN 280: Activities in Environmental Engineering 

• ENVN 330: Applied Engineering Hydrology 

• ENVN 430: Water Quality Modeling 

• ESM 360: Hydrology and Water Quality 

Professional Bio: 
Dr. Hassanpour’s area of expertise is agricultural water management and quality. Her research interests include remediation of non-point source pollution, water quality, nutrient cycling and the fate and transport of contaminants. She has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant, in collaboration with Dr. Coleman Wasik, to study carbon and nitrogen cycling in agricultural soils. 

Education:  

• B.S., Syracuse University (Biology -Ecology) 

• M.S., Syracuse University  (Earth Sciences) 

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Earth Sciences) 

Courses Taught:  

• BIOL 103: Biological Evolution  

• BIOL 150: General Biology 

• BIOL 230: General Zoology 

• BIOL 454: Mammalogy 

• GEOL 101: Introduction to Geology 

• GEOL 102: Introduction to Geology Lab 

• GEOL 150: Geological Perspectives of Global Change 

• GEOL 362: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 

• GEOL 377 Northeast Regional Geology Fieldtrip 

• GEOL 450: Paleontology 
   

Professional Bio:  
My goal as an educator is to create an inclusive, dynamic and equitable classroom that provides base knowledge, develops quantitative and communication skills and inspires students to follow their inquisitive nature through open inquiry and critical thinking. I strive to achieve these goals everyday by utilizing evidence-based practices, a diversity of pedagogical tools and encouraging students to participate in their learning through inquiry-based activities and conducting primary research.  

Research Interests: 
My research focuses on illuminating the processes and interactions that shape and record patterns of biodiversity. My team and I investigate modern ecology paleoecology and paleoenvironmental questions using biogeochemical data, geospatial data and the fossil record. Recent work used stable isotopes to investigate food resource partition by small mammals in response to environmental change today and over the last 4 million years in the Great Plains. 

For more information about student opportunities, research, teaching and fun, visit: andrewhaveles.weebly.com/. 
 

Education:

• B.A., University of Texas Austin (Geography) 

• M.A., University of Denver (Geography) 

• Ph.D., Texas State University (Geography) 

Courses Taught:  

• ESM 107: Planning for a Sustainable Society 

• ESM 151: Intro to Land Use Theory and Practice 

• ESM 218: International Experience in Resilience Planning 

• ESM 308: Sustainable Urban Design 

• ESM 318: Resilience Planning for Natural Hazards 

• ESM 325: Planning for Public Lands and Open Space 

• ESM 351: Planning for Sustainable Communities 

• ESM 411: Site Planning and Development 

• GEOG 322: Urban Geography 

• HON 191: Honors Seminar 

• HON 497: Honors Capstone Seminar 

Professional Bio: 
I bring over 20 years of experience as a practicing urban planner to my teaching at UWRF and strive to incorporate a practical approach to my courses. I want students to recognize the connection between what they are learning in the classroom to applications in their future careers. My teaching leverages my practical experience by incorporating practical class projects and work to allow students to develop skills that will make them more effective community planners. I am also involved in community projects providing planning assistance to communities that include opportunities for student involvement for their professional development gaining real world experiences.  

My research focus is on the role of social capital in developing community sustainability across social, economic and environmental pillars. My dissertation addressed the relationship of social capital to economic vitality in the Appalachian region and I am currently involved in projects exploring social capital in the dairy industry in Wisconsin. Another interest is the concept of place and how it is defined and expressed. This includes how places are defined by particular products (such as bourbon and Kentucky), place names, cultural identifiers, place names, etc. Finally, I also research housing production and access, looking at regulations and policies that impact this area to address barriers that are limiting housing availability. 

Education: 

• B.S., State University of New York at Plattsburgh (Biological Sciences) 

• M.S., University of Florida (Entomology and Nematology) 

• Ph.D., Michigan Technological University (Forest Science) 

Courses Taught: 

• ESM 105: Introduction to Environmental Science  

• ESM 109: Introduction to Forestry  

• ESM 343: Forest Restoration and Management  

• ESM 242: Tropical Restoration Experience 

Professional Bio: 
My areas of specialty include: Forest Ecology and Management; Forest Restoration and Conservation; Invasive Plant Ecology and Management. I hold 3 professional certifications: Certified Ecologist - Ecological Society of America; Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician - American Association for Laboratory Animal Science; Commercial Pesticide Applicator. Aquatic, Demonstration & Research. I am a member of the Ecology Research as Education Network (EREN).

Professional Websites: 

• kevynjuneau.weebly.com/ 

• scholar.google.com/citations?user=IGVBjZYAAAAJ&hl=en 
   

Education:  

• B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Horticulture and Agronomy)   

• M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Plant Breeding and Genetics) 

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Applied Plant Sciences) 

Courses Taught:  

• CROP 257: Genetics 

• CROP 266: Corn and Soybean Production 

• CROP 267: Small Grain Production 

• CROP 368: Sustainable Agriculture 

• CROP 380: Crop Judging 

• CROP 410: Plant Breeding and Crop Improvement 

Professional Bio:  
My research interests are in the areas of crop improvement and agricultural practices that will improve the sustainability of regional cropping systems. Particularly, I am interested in identifying ways to diversify crop rotations and exploring alternative uses for row crops. I also am interested in social issues that affect agricultural systems including the role of migrant labor in supporting agricultural production. I serve on several university committees that support my professional interests including the Sustainability Working Group and Diversity and Inclusivity Committee. I also advise student clubs including the Crops and Soils Club and Falcon 4-H and coach the UW-River Falls Crop Judging team. 

Education:  

• B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Plant Science)  

• M.S.,  University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Horticulture - Plant Physiology) 

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Horticulture – Plant Physiology, Cell Biology)

Courses Taught: 

• HORT 169: Introduction to Horticulture 

• HORT 245: Interior Plantscapes  

• HORT 255: Turfgrass Science and Management 

• HORT 268: Native and Adapted Herbaceous Perennials 

• HORT 270: Internship I 

• HORT 310: Greenhouse Management 

• HORT 370: Internship II 

• HORT 420: Floriculture 

• HORT 430: Hydroponic Production of Horticultural Food Crops 

• CROP 435: Crop Physiology 

Professional Bio: 
Dr. Maki works with horticultural crops with a specialization in plant growth regulation and flowering. Her masters and doctoral research focused on the role of gibberellins in fruit growth and her post-doctoral research utilized developmental genetics to investigate inflorescence architecture. She enjoys working with students in the Horticulture Society and on projects such as plant growth regulation, hydroponic production of horticultural crops and analyzing the expression of flowering genes through quantitative real time PCR and transcriptomics. Dr. Maki is a member of the American Society of Plant Biologists, the American Society for Horticultural Science and the honorary horticulture fraternity Pi Alpha Xi. Over her career she’s received the Chancellor’s Award, a Doctoral Dissertation Award, several photography awards from the Paul Thomas / Pi Alph Xi Digital Photography Contest and a Science Magazine IBI Series award. 

Education:  

• M.S., University of Florida (Agronomy) 

• Ph.D., University of Florida (Agronomy) 

Courses Taught:  

• Plant Science 161: Introduction to Plant Science 

• Crop Science 262: Equine Forage Systems 

• Crop Science 263: Forage Crop Production 

• Crop Science 287: Tropical Agriculture, Culture, and Environment 

• Crop Science 363: Pasture Production 

• Crop Science 381: Forage Experiential Learning 

• Crop Science 485: Agronomy Seminar 

Professional Bio:  

• My background includes training as a Forage Agronomist and my role includes 70% teaching, and 30% Outreach and Extension Education.  

• Areas of specialization are Forage Crops, Forage Physiology and Climate Change, Forage Quality, and Grazing Management.  

• Professional/research activities have focused on i) Evaluation of summer annuals/cool-season forages and soil health for the upper Midwest, ii) Forage evaluation using NIR, and haylage production, iii) Training and development of new professionals in forages/cover crops, grazing and soil health and iv) Education about Tropical Agriculture, Culture and Environment. 

• Among the awards/accomplishments received are i) Paul B. and Robert Dykstra award for Faculty Excellence – UWRF (2022), ii) Nomination for Distinguished Teacher Award, UWRF (2022), iii) National Champions (2024, 2022, 2020, 2019) - Forage Bowl at American Forage and Grassland Council, UWRF Forage Team, iv) I have authored outreach publications (72), in addition to refereed publications: Book chapters (7), Monographs (2), Journals and Proceedings (42). 

• Languages:  English - Native Proficiency. Spanish – Native Proficiency 

Professional Website: 

• uppermidwestforages.org 

Education:  

• B.S., Colorado State University (Range Ecology, Concentration in Wildlife Management, Specialization in Soil Science)  

• M.S., Colorado State University (Range Science) 

• Ph.D., Texas Tech University (Range Science)  

Courses Taught:  

• ESM 105: Introduction to Environmental Studies 

• ESM 151:  Introduction to Land Use Theory and Practice 

• ESM 270/370: Internship I/Internship II 

• ESM 245: Foundations of Ecological Restoration 

• ESM 300/500: Environmental Education 

• ESM 302: Broadfield Environmental Education Lab 

• ESM 303: Environmental Policies and Administration 

• ESM 333: Remote Sensing of Natural Resources 

• ESM 345: Prairie Restoration and Fire Ecology 

• ESM 363: GIS Applications in Resource Management 

• ESM 393: Comprehensive Planning 

• ESM 435/735: Advanced Land Use Planning and Design 

• ESM 485: Senior Seminar 

• SMGT 115: Environmental Science and Sustainability 

Professional Bio:  
Education: Undergraduate academic background in natural resources management, focused on grassland ecology. Employed with the Natural Resources Conservation Service at field stations throughout Colorado upon graduation. Graduate studies focused on the use of advanced technologies in natural resources management, including the early application of GIS to modelling wind and water erosion potential and change over time and the development of the scene brightness index to measure total vegetative ground cover utilizing remote sensing technologies. 

Professional Activities : Curricular development and instruction in natural resources management, land use planning, remote sensing, GIS, and environmental education programs. Multi-campus collaborative research utilizing student participants in cost-of-community services studies. Administrative duties including academic director of the Sustainable Management collaborative, online bachelor’s degree program and PES faculty coordinator and director of the CAFES internship program. Long-standing member of the Pierce County Land Management Committee.   

Awards:

• UWRF Adviser of the Year Award, 2019 

• McNair Scholars Program Diversity Award, 2015 

• UWRF CAFES Outstanding Faculty Award, 2015 

• North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Teaching Award of Merit, 2015 

• Project Learning Tree Wisconsin Facilitator of the Year, 2015-2016 

• Raymond Davies Scholarship from Society for Imaging Science and Technology, 1990 

Education:  

• B.S., University of Texas (Geology) 
• M.S., Indiana University (Geology) 
• Ph.D., University of Tennessee (Geology)

Courses Taught:  

• GEOL 101: Introduction to Geology 

• GEOL 102: Introduction to Geology Lab 

• GEOL 202: Oceanography 

• GEOL 230: Mineralogy 

• GEOL 231: Petrology 

• GEOL 350: Geological Destinies of Nations 

• GEOL 269: Environmental Geology 

• GEOL 305: Geology of the Planets 

• GEOL 371: Regional Field Trips 

• GEOL 485: Senior Seminar 

• Expedition to the Great Lake Michigan (Summer course in conjunction with UW-Milwaukee)  

Professional Bio:   
Dr. Thaisen is a Planetary Geologist who has done work here on Earth and in its oceans, on the Moon, Mars, Venus and with meteorites. He is currently working with undergraduate students on micrometeorites/micrometeor-wrongs using a scanning electron microscope to determine morphological and compositional features that will aid in proper identification.  

Professional Website:

• linkedin.com/in/kevin-thaisen-53236551/ 

Education: 

• B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Horticulture) 

• M.S., University of Minnesota (Plant Breeding) 

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Applied Plant Sciences; Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics track) 

Courses Taught: 

• PLSC 120: Plants and Society 

• PLSC 161: Introduction to Plant Science Laboratory 

• AFES 222 Introduction to Biotechnology 

• HORT 200: Plant Propagation 

• HORT 352: Woody Landscape Plants 

• HORT 369: Plant Tissue Culture 

• HORT 452: Arboriculture and Nursery Management 

• HORT 485: Horticulture Senior Seminar 

• HORT 490: Horticulture Independent Study 

Professional Bio: 
Dr. Zlesak (or Dr. Z) has a deep care for his students and colleagues and an ever-deepening passion for plants. Selected as UWRF's 2017 Distinguished Teacher, David loves to get to know his students and help them build upon their foundational knowledge/skills in horticulture and explore their unique career interests. Working in greenhouse/nursery production and sales, with pines at the USDA Forest Service and as a Horticulture Extension Educator with the Master Gardener program and industry members, he brings a wealth of background and connections to support curriculum and student opportunities. David has been breeding hardy landscape roses since his youth and continues to breed them for increased winter hardiness and disease resistance. He works with faculty at other universities to study disease resistance genes and reproductive biology of roses. He serves as the current president of the American Rose Trials for Sustainability® program, a national program that tests roses under low input conditions and provides regional awards. He is also currently cochair of the USDA National Clean Plant Network-Roses program that aims to bring virus indexed propagation material to support industry and the final consumer with clean plants. Besides roses, he also loves to work with native shrubs and perennials and has cultivars of the following US native species on the market: ninebark, red twig dogwood, heliopsis, and smooth hydrangea. His desire in his plant breeding efforts is to overcome market limiting traits to support the horticulture industry and consumers (e.g., plants that are more disease resistant, bloom abundantly and have more attractive/manageable plant habits, are production friendly, etc.). His plants have earned awards for their strong performance as has David for his contributions to education and horticulture (University of Minnesota Horticulture Dept. Distinguished Alumnus, Bronze award from both the Wisconsin Federation of Garden Blubs and Minnesota State Horticulture Society, etc.). David is a frequent speaker and contributor to horticulture industry and academic organizations. 

Education:  

• B.S., University of New Hampshire (Biochemistry) 

• M.Ed., University of Minnesota (Secondary Science Education) 

Professional Bio: 
I started my career at a Junior Scientist at the University of Minnesota where I conducted cataract research for three years. After completing my master’s degree, I went on to teach secondary biology and earth science for eight years at Tartan High School in Oakdale, Minn. After that, I managed the Cell Lab exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota for fifteen years, teaching high school students lab skills and assisting visitors with hands-on molecular biology experiments. In the fall of 2019, I joined the Plant and Earth Science Department at UWRF as an Academic Department Associate in the front office. I enjoy being immersed in an academic setting, surrounded by rocks and plants and providing administrative support to our faculty and students.  

Education: 

• B.S., University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Biology) 

• M.S., University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Biological Sciences focused in Conservation Biology and Ecology)

Professional Bio: Background in wildlife research with data entry about carnivore tracking in the Serengeti and acoustic preferences of mating gray treefrogs. Conservation practices in managing invasive species, prairies and forests with an emphasis in supporting wildlife including pollinators and reptiles. Background in education as an interpretive naturalist and high school coach.  

Education:  

• B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Psychology/Business/Geology) 

• M.S., University of Wisconsin- Madison (Water Resource Management) 

Education:  

• B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Horticulture)