Director of Research 

Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems

Communications Lead, ASU Farm,

Shreya is from India and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Information Technology. As an ASU Farm Leader for Communications and Relations, she blends her technical skills with creative communication to manage the farm’s social media and website. She focuses on connecting people and spreading the word about sustainable farming in fun and engaging ways.

Communications Lead, ASU Farm,

Thomas is a Conservation Biology undergraduate with a background in forest conservation and organic agriculture. Heavily involved in sustainability non-profit outreach, he strives to promote awareness of nature’s genius through regeneration. As the ASU Farm Leader in Communications and Relations, he manages the farm’s social media, newsletters, and outreach, presenting unique opportunities for the ASU community to engage with the Earth and support organic agriculture.

Onsite Farm Lead, ASU Farm,

Rutendp is currently an ASU Student Farm Leader, managing the ASU Farm and overseeing its operations. With a background in agribusiness and development from Zimbabwe, he brings experience in both small-scale and commercial farming. He is pursuing a master’s in global management with a focus on sustainability and financing.

Onsite Farm Lead, ASU Farm,

Amanda is a Student Farm Leader where she supports farm operations. She is studying Sustainable Food Systems and holds a BFA in Ceramics with a minor in Applied Biological Sciences from ASU, along with a certificate in Sustainable Agriculture from Mesa Community College. With a passion for small-scale ecological farming, she is committed towards building regenerative food systems.

Onsite Farm Lead, ASU Farm,

Chandlee is an undergraduate Ocean Futures (Coastal and Marine Science) and Sustainability minor (Indigenous focus). Studies reveal a profound appreciation for the natural world, rooted in his Navajo traditions, while challenging the conventional Western scientific perspective. He's exploring how Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) and agricultural practices can enrich academic-based food systems as part of his role as an ASU Farm Student Leader.

Graduate Fellow, Sparky’s Garden,

Sophie Neems is a third-year PhD student in Sociocultural Anthropology at Arizona State University. Her research explores sustainable food systems, land ownership, alternatives to private property, and farm succession planning in Iowa. Her master’s thesis examined why Iowa landowners protect land for alternative agriculture and natural resources through conservation easements and donations to non-profits.She previously conducted Fulbright-funded research in Córdoba, Spain, studying how farmers’ sense of place shapes their responses to climate change. Passionate about community-engaged research, Sophie aims to contribute to socially just systems change. Before graduate school, she worked in federal agriculture policy and communications at the National Farmers Union and the Farm Credit Council in Washington, D.C

Recipient of an ASU Farm scholarship, Fall 25 

Brennan is a recipient of our ASU Farm Garden Scholarship and a student volunteer with Sparky’s Garden. As a student in the College of Global Futures, his interests include proper resource management, community engagement, and energy-related issues.