Team Members

	Stephanie Kulesza, Assistant Professor of Nutrient Management and Animal Waste Stephanie completed her B.S.A. in Environmental, Soil, and Water Sciences from the University of Arkansas and her Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences from Virginia Tech. She worked for the Idaho Dairymen’s Association for three years prior to her current position at NC State. Stephanie joined the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences in 2018. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and camping with her pup, Andisol (aka Andi). Contact: sbkulesz@ncsu.edu – (919)515-5290 – 3403E Williams Hall
	Steven Miller, Graduate (M.S.) Student Steven discovered his passion for soils at a compost bin. Inspired by the urban food movement, Steven left the carpenters union in 2013 to learn about growing food by working on small, sustainable farms. Once discovering the linkage of food production to environmental health, Steven turned his attention to soil science with hopes to better assist our agricultural producers. Alongside receiving his BS in environmental science at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, Steven also worked as an analytical chemistry lab tech in the schools environmental analysis lab.  He has many hobbies mostly inspired by traditional lifestyles, including: woodworking, playing Appalachian folk music, growing and preserving food, camping and exploring with his dog Oakley. Contact: srmill24@ncsu.edu
	Godwell Manda, Graduate (M.S.) Student Godwell graduated from EARTH University-Costa Rica in December 2020 where he was awarded a B.S in Agricultural sciences and natural resource management. During his four years at EARTH, he gained both a solid base of scientific and technical knowledge in the agricultural sciences, as well as experience and understanding of sustainable management practices. Before joining Animal Waste Management Lab, he worked as a research assistant with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA-Malawi) under DeSIRA project (Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture). During his free time, he loves playing chess online.   Contact: gmanda@ncsu.edu
	Seongmin Park, Graduate (Ph.D.) Student Seongmin joined the Animal Waste Management Lab in August 2022. She is interested in soil nutrient cycling and managements for agricultural environment. Currently, her research focuses on the impact of topdressing poultry litter in corn and soybean fields on crop productivity and nutrients (e.g. N and P). While at Pusan National University, where she earned her M.S. in Life Science and Environmental Biochemistry, Seongmin was a research assistant of a group studying soil management for greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils and heavy metal polluted soils. Her M.S. research focused on managements to reduce ammonia emission from the soil using chemical and organic amendments. Seongmin’s excitement for soil nutrient cycling is rooted in her passion for promoting sustainable soil management strategies. Contact: spark53@ncsu.edu

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