Pipeline to Ag Leaders
Contact Information
Pipeline to Ag Leaders, Co-PI
CSU, Chico - College of Agriculture
Kasey DeAtley, Associate Professor of Animal and Range Science
kdeatley@csuchico.edu
Office: Plumas Hall 206
Pipeline to Ag Leaders, PI
NMSU, Animal and Range Sciences
Jennifer Hernandez Gifford, Professor
jgifford@nmsu.edu
Office: Knox Hall 219
Pipeline to Ag Leaders, Co-PI
NMSU, Animal and Range Sciences
Sergio Soto-Navarro, Professor
ssoto@nmsu.edu
Office Knox Hall 224
Leadership Team
Kasey L DeAtley
Dr. Kasey DeAtley is an Associate Professor at California State University, Chico in the College of Agriculture. Dr. DeAtley’s teaching and research focuses on systems approaches to range beef cattle production and management, livestock mortality compositing, and creating experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate research. As Co-PI, Kasey, alumni of NMSU, is collaborating with colleagues at NMSU to create a pipeline between undergrads and graduate students at Chico State and NMSU. Kasey is responsible for the PALs program at Chico State which includes organizing, mentoring research, and administering the program as well as working with faculty at NMSU to create professional development opportunities for all students in the program.
Jennifer Hernandez Gifford
Dr. Jennifer Hernandez Gifford is a Professor in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences at New Mexico State University. She studies the signaling molecules regulating ovarian estrogen production, focusing on novel intra-ovarian signaling pathway critical in ovarian follicle dynamic. Dr. Hernandez Gifford’s research combines whole animal physiology with molecular biology tools to answer questions related to understanding the impact of specific signaling pathways on estrogen levels in health and disease. She is also PI of the Pipeline to Ag Leaders (PAL’s) Grant and works closely with the Co-PI’s to recruit, hire, retain and facilitate graduation of students in the program.
Sergio Soto-Navarro
Dr. Sergio Soto-Navarro is a Professor in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences at New Mexico State University. Dr. Soto-Navarro’s research focuses on ruminant nutrition of grazing cattle, with emphasis on strategies to improve productivity of cattle grazing winter wheat pasture. The overall goal of his research program is to improve rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis to optimize the use of forage by cattle. Dr. Soto-Navarro has experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in several minority student programs including the NM Alliance for Minority Participation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Program, and USDA Hispanic-Serving Institutions program entitled “Advancing LEADERS 2 the Doctorate.” In addition, Dr. Soto-Navarro is Co-PI on the PAL’s grant and is instrumental to student recruitment, and training graduate students.
This project is sponsored by the USDA/NIFA Hispanic Serving Institution Education Grant Program (grant no. 2022-77040-37622)
