Home and Community Plant Experts

Plant Specialties

Gemini Bhalsod, Horticulture educator based in Arlington Heights
Ornamental Horticulture; Vegetable Gardening; Soil Issues; Invasive Plant Species; Illinois Native Plants; integrated pest management (IPM)
gbhalsod@illinois.edu

Bruce Black, Horticulture educator based in Sterling
Vegetable gardening; small fruit; tree fruits; propagation/micropropagation; community gardens; youth and school horticulture/gardens
brucejb@illinois.edu

Christopher Enroth, Horticulture educator based in Macomb
Green infrastructure; ornamental horticulture; lawns; trees; season extension; vegetable gardening
cenroth@illinois.edu

Jennifer Fishburn, Horticulture educator based in Springfield
Vegetable gardening; herb gardening; landscape design; native plants; woody ornamentals
fishburn@illinois.edu

Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, horticulture educator based in Lewistown
Weed science; integrated pest management.
nflower2@illinois.edu

Brittnay Haag, Horticulture educator based in Bloomington
Youth gardening; herbaceous ornamentals; ornamental horticulture
bhaag@illinois.edu

Candice Anderson, State Master Gardener Specialist based in Decatur.
State Master Gardener Coordinator.  Ornamental Horticulture; flower gardening. 
mille116@illinois.edu

Andrew Holsinger, Horticulture educator based in Hillsboro
Tree fruit culture; plant identification; pruning techniques; ornamental horticulture; vegetable gardening; woody ornamentals
aholsing@illinois.edu

Ken Johnson, Horticulture educator based in Jacksonville
Entomology/insects; integrated pest management (IPM); Plant disease; fruit and vegetable gardening/production; pollinators; beneficial insects (predators, parasitoids, etc.)
kjohnso@illinois.edu

Nancy Kreith, Horticulture educator based in Matteson
Landscape design; native plants; woody and herbaceous plants; vegetable gardening; soils and composting; insects
kreith@illinois.edu

Christina Lueking, Horticulture educator based in Salem
Community gardens, herb gardening, cut flower gardening, high tunnel production, backyard greenhouse, pollinators, native plant pollinator plots, green roof infrastructure
lueking@illinois.edu

Ryan Pankau, Horticulture educator based in Champaign
Arboriculture and forestry; ornamental horticulture; vegetable gardening; wildlife habitat restoration; native plants; integrated pest management
rcpankau@illinois.edu

Kimberly Rohling, Horticulture educator based in Murphysboro
Home gardening; birdscaping; wildlife-friendly gardening; invasive species; and integrated pest management (IPM).
kimrohli@illinois.edu

Emily Swihart, Horticulture educator based in Milan
Urban trees and woodland management, native plant ecosystems, cut flower production.
eswihart@illinois.edu

Sarah Vogel, Horticulture educator based in Decatur
Annuals and perennials; greenhouse production; landscaping; urban forest management
sarahv@illinois.edu

Field and Specialty Crop Experts

Field and Specialty Crop Specialties

Bronwyn Aly, Local Foods and Small Farms educator based in Carmi
Vegetable production; small fruit production; high tunnel production; integrated pest management 
baly@illinois.edu

Talon Becker, Commercial Agriculture State Educator based in Urbana
Row crop agronomy; cover crops; plant physiology, breeding, and genetics
tbecker2@illinois.edu

Katie Bell, Local Foods and Small Farm educator based in Murphysboro
Agronomic and horticultural crop production; cover crops; pest management; soil and nutrient management; food safety and security.
klbell@illinois.edu

N. Dennis Bowman, Specialist in digital agriculture based in Urbana
Digital agriculture, precision agriculture; row crops; integrated pest management (IPM); UAV/drones
ndbowman@illinois.edu

Sarah Farley, Local Foods and Small Farms educator based in Grayslake
Composting, food access, program evaluation, facilitation, livestock (sheep, goat, swine, cattle) production, agribusiness management, youth development, soil health, health equity.
sfarley@illinois.edu

Nick Frillman, Local Foods and Small Farm educator based in Bloomington
Sustainable/regenerative vegetable production; agroforestry; cover crops; reduced tillage; weed control; solarization; organic grain; mushrooms; tree fruits.
frillma2@illinois.edu

Zachary Grant, Local Foods and Small Farms educator based in Matteson
Urban farming and gardening; urban and rural soil management; intensive vegetable production systems; organic vegetable production systems; high tunnel production; general protected culture; food safety (produce); Integrated Pest Management (IPM); irrigation
zgrant2@illinois.edu

Douglas B. Gucker, Local Foods and Small Farms educator based in Decatur
Cover crops; native prairie plantings; pasture establishment; pasture management; beekeeping; soil health
dgucker@illinois.edu

Nathan Johanning, Commercial Agriculture Educator based in Waterloo
Commercial fruit & vegetable production; cover crops & no-till production; weed management; soil management & fertility; commercial pumpkin production; grain crop production
njohann@illinois.edu

Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms educator based in Freeport
General fruit and vegetable production; soils management; fruit tree pruning; organic production; integrated pest management (IPM)
gmccarty@illinois.edu

Kathryn Pereira, Local Foods and Small Farms educator based in Chicago
Urban agriculture and gardening; farm business development; farm financial management; program evaluation; facilitation; small farm marketing; composting; organic fruit and vegetable production.
kpereira@illinois.edu

Nick Seiter, Research Assistant Professor
Field crop entomology and pest management; Insect identification; Integrated pest management (IPM)
nseiter@illinois.edu

Elizabeth Wahle, Commercial Agriculture State Educator based in Collinsville
Commercial vegetable production; commercial fruit production 
wahle@illinois.edu

Natural Resources Experts

Natural Resources Specialties

Eliana Brown, Water Quality Specialist based in Urbana.
Green infrastructure; rain gardens; nutrient loss reduction.
brown12@illinois.edu

Rachel Curry, Watershed Outreach Associate based in Galva
Nutrient loss reduction; soil health; cover crops; watershed planning
rccurry@illinois.edu

Peggy Doty, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy educator based in Sycamore
Wildlife management; wildlife/human interactions; environmental education (youth & adult); large pond ecology; prairie restoration; native landscapes; rainfall management
psdoty@illinois.edu

Brodie Dunn, State Pollinator Coordinator based in Urbana
Pollinators and other beneficial insects. watershed planning
lbdunn2@illinois.edu

Chris Evans, Forestry Extension and Research Specialist based at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson
Forestry; forest health/pests; invasive species; herbicides; plant identification; and wildlife
cwevans@illinois.edu

Duane Friend, State Master Naturalist and Climate Change Specialist based in Jacksonville
State Master Naturalist Coordinator.  Climate and weather; soil health; composting; farm pond management; septic system management
friend@illinois.edu

Abigail Garofalo, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy educator based in Westchester
Environmental education; conservation landscape practices
aeg9@illinois.edu

Erin Garrett, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy educator based in Anna
Native plants; grass identification (non-lawn grasses); pollinators; invasive species; smart grid/smart meter technology; energy efficiency
emedvecz@illinois.edu

Nicole Haverback, Watershed Outreach Associate based in Effingham
Nutrient loss reduction; soil health; cover crops; watershed planning
nlh@illinois.edu

Stanley (Jay) Solomon, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy educator based in Freeport
Renewable energy; livestock management including nutrient management, grazing, mortality management, and facilities; home energy efficiency, water quality; invasive species; rainwater management
jssolomo@illinois.edu