The Global Teach Ag Network’s Team is composed of faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, and volunteers committed to collaboration around empowering educators.
Together, we can do more! Interested in joining our team? Email globalaged@psu.edu
Faculty and Staff Team Members
Dr. Daniel Foster
Co-Founder
Teacher Education / Innovation Specialist
Dr. Melanie Miller Foster
Co-Founder
International Development / Global Learning Specialist
Thomas Gabel
GTAN Program Manager
Thomas is the program manager and is responsible for intern supervision duties.
Mr. Brad Kinsinger
GTAN Fellow
Mr. Brad Kinsinger is the community college coordinator/specialist.
bradley.kinsinger@kirkwood.edu
Dr. Hiram Larew
GTAN Fellow
Dr. Hiram Larew is founder of PoetryXHunger and has helped develop the GTANcreates program.
poetryxhunger@gmail.com
Dr. OP McCubbins
GTAN Fellow
Dr. OP McCubbins is the immersive technology specialist and member of the World Food Prize Foundation Global guides Program Facilitation Team
am4942@msstate.edu
Dr. Tobin Redwine
GTAN Fellow
Dr. Tobin Redwine is the leadership/communications specialist and member of the World Food Prize Foundation Global guides Program Facilitation Team.
tredwine@vivayic.com
Dr. Laura Rice
GTAN Fellow
Dr. Laura Rice is the research and scholarship program manager and is a member of the College of Food, Ag and Natural Sciences at University of Minnesota.
rice0403@umn.edu
Dr. Priya Sharma
GTAN Fellow
Dr. Priya Sharma is the digital communities of practice research specialist and is a member of the College of Education at Penn State.
psharma@psu.edu
Dr. Kasee Smith
GTAN Fellow
Kasee Smith is a research team member and a member of the World Food Prize Foundation GOALs facilitation team.
Olivia Murphy-Sweet
GTAN Fellow
Olivia Murphy-Sweet is the Curriculum and Gender Specialist and a member of the World Food Prize Foundation GOALs Program Facilitation Team. oliviams@fieldofhope.org
Action Team Leaders
Darla Romberger
Darla Romberger is the GTANjr program leader
dromberger@cvschools.org
Dr. Robin McLean
Dr. Robin McLean is the GTANreads program leader
mclean.robin.c@gmail.com
Nicole Weaver
Nicole Weaver is the GTANcreates program leader
nweaver@tvsd.org
Graduate Associates
Jose Sandoval
Social Media Research Analyst
- Jose is GTAN’s social media research analyst.
- Jose is a Ph.D. candidate in learning, design, and technology.
- Jose loves to spend time with his 6-year-old son.
hopes ther experiences with agricu
Megan Pietruszewski Norman
Communications Specialist
- Megan’s primary responsibility with GTAN is to assist with communications.
- Megan is a Ph.D. student studying Mass Communication in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State.
- Megan’s main research interests are in science and environmental communications.
Jessica Spence
Communications & Evaluation Specialist
- Jessica’s primary duties with GTAN are to help with monitoring, evaluating, and research production for the Global Guides program and Teach Ag Uganda.
- Jessica is employed at Virginia Tech as an ICTAS Research Scholar and Doctoral Student.
hopes ther experiences with agricu
Karen Lopez Olmedo
Coordination Specialist
- Karen’s primary duties with GTAN are to coordinate GTAN en español programming, translates existing resources to promote accessibility, and assists with a variety of GTAN projects.
- Karen is is a co-founder of the Organization: Indigenous Peoples of Oaxaca, which since 2018 has aimed to rescue, preserve, and promote the cultural heritage of their state.
Mia Sullivan
Teacher in Residence and Graduate Assistant
- GOALS Cohort Lead Instructor
- Previously taught 8-12 agricultural educator and FFA advisor in Tennessee
- WFPF Global Guide Educator Cohort 3 Alumni
Interns
Amaya Lopez
2021 – Present
- Amaya’s primary responsibility with GTAN is to assist with communications.
- Amaya is a senior studying Criminology, Sociology, and Political Science.
- Amaya grew up in Santa Monica, California.
Abigail enjoys working in youth development and hopes to utilize her experiences with
agricultural education to develop future leaders
Abigail O’Neill
2023 – Present
- Abigail’s primary responsibility is to promote the Global Teach Ag Network through communications and social media.
- Abigail is a junior majoring in Agricultural Sciences and minoring in journalism, corporate communication, and international agriculture
- Abigail enjoys working in youth development and hopes to utilize her experiences with agricultural education to develop future leaders.
MaKenna DeWitt
2023 – Present
- MaKenna is a senior at the University of Idaho studying Agricultural and Extension Education
- MaKenna assists with a variety of programs including the GOALs program and GTANjr modules
- MaKenna is excited to introduce International Agriculture into her future classroom
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Grace Bomgardner
2023 – Present
- Grace’s primary responsibility is to aid in the Growers of Today and Tomorrow (GTT) Program.
- Grace is a junior majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education.
- Grace is excited to advance agriculture and community relationships through the GTAN community!
bigail enjoys working in youth
Sarah Beaver
2023 – Present
- Sarah works on a variety of projects such as GTANjr badges and rescores related to the Global Youth Institute along with other projects in the GTAN Community.
- Sarah is a sophomore majoring in Agriculture Extension and Education
- Sarah values Global Agriculture and is excited to connect with others through the GTAN community.
Rena Johnson
2023 – Present
- Rena is a senior majoring in Agriculture Education at the University of Minnesota
- Rena works with GTAN has primarily been focused on the development of food security education materials for educators
- Rena has a twin brother
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Team in Action Photos
