Our Team
Meet the Scientists
Dr. Jonathan
Lundgren
Founded Ecdysis Foundation in 2016
Founder & Director of Ecdysis Foundation
Jonathan founded Ecdysis Foundation & Blue Dasher Farm as a research foundation as well as training ground for future scientists and farmers. He is an Agroecologist, Farmer, Rancher, and Beekeeper
Dr. KC
Jensen
Joined Ecdysis Team in 2021
Research Specialist - Avian Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist (part-time)
Dr. Ryan
Schmid
Re-joined Ecdysis Team in 2018
Research Scientist & Agroecologist
Ryan is a research scientist in charge of rangeland programs around North America
Dr. Kelton
Welch
Re-joined Ecdysis Team in 2019
Research Entomologist & Ecological Collections Manager
Kelton is in charge of the Mark F. Longfellow Biological Collection at Blue Dasher Farm
Meet The Graduate and PhD Students
Cassandra
Koel
Joined Ecdysis Team in 2022
Bsc Biological Sciences - Ecological Studies
Cass is a Msc at SDSU studying the Conversion of Cropland into Rangeland
Meet The Core Staff
Roger
Brown
Re-joined Ecdysis in 2023
Shrimp Boil Consultant
Nora
D'antuono
Joined Ecdysis in 2024
Agroecology Specialist
Yam
Gautam
Joined Ecdysis in 2023
Project Leader
Kristianna
Gehant Siddens
Joined Ecdysis in 2024
Lab Manager
Frank
James
Joined Ecdysis in 2026
Community Relations
Erik
Johnson
Joined Ecdysis in 2023
Agroecology Specialist
Malin
Just
Joined Ecdysis in 2026
Agroecology Project Lead
Allison
Lewis
Joined Ecdysis in 2021
Agroecology Specialist - Ornithology
Christina
Lind
Joined Ecdysis in 2020
Communications Specialist & Farm Operations
Lynnette
Miller
Joined Ecdysis in 2022
Scientific Support Specialist
Kaden
Minturn
Joined Ecdysis in 2026
Agroecology Technician
Diaa
Nassar
Joined Ecdysis in 2025
Full-Stack Software Engineer
Evan
Robertson
Joined Ecdysis in 2026
Agroecology Specialist
Lincoln
Schumacher
Joined Ecdysis in 2026
Agroecology Technician
Jay
Skaar
Joined Ecdysis in 2019
Agroecology Specialist
Erin
Smith
Joined Ecdysis in 2026
Agroecology Specialist
Taylor
Storbakken
Joined Ecdysis in 2025
Administrative Assistant
Andres
Torres-Moya
Joiend Ecdysis in 2024
Agroecology Specialist
Mikayla
Wilson
Joined Ecdysis in 2024
Computer Scientist/Data Specialist
Bobbie
Wilson
Joined Ecdysis in 2022
Agroecology Specialist
McKenzie
Wilson
Joined Ecdysis in 2024
Agroecology Technician
Meet The Governing Board
Dr. Robert Wiedenmann
Chair
Former Department Head of Entomology, University of Arkansas
Mark Law
Treasurer
President, DNB National bank
Melanie Kirby
Member-at-large
Beekeeper, Educator
Gail Fuller
Vice-Chair
Farmer, Educator
Anne Golden
Secretary
Philanthropist
Genesis Graduate Students
Dan Pecenka
2025
South Dakota State University
Jacob Pecenka
2017
South Dakota State University
Claire LaCanne
2017
South Dakota State University
Dr. Tommy Fenster
2026
University of California, Davis
Former Staff
Adam Tess
Alyson Garcia
Anqi Zhang
Cedric Gentils
DeJae Gantvoort
Emily Tess
Gabriela Jancikova
Islam Genina
Katie Wallace
Liz Adee
Mike Bredeson
Nolan Ryne
Robin Buterbaugh
Sierra Stendahl
Thomas Schmitt
Ahna Halvorson
Amy Heibult
Aubine Zaro
Christopher Bradley
Desirae Hertling
Felicia Rain
Gordon Gallant
Jenna Krogh
Kayli Tolk
Liza Chang
Morgan Pederson
Olivia (Liv) Torbert
Roger Brown
Stephen Robertson
Will Engelmann
Alec Peterson
Amy Knofcynski
Austin Adee
Cooper Millar
Easton Coe
Fritze Mayer
Hannah Voye
Julia Stueven
Kimberly Strohschein
Matt Jones
Namrata Ghimire
Olivia Husmann
Sadie Tornberg
Sydney Golding
Will Hillery
Alex Marra
Anesa Liptak
Braden Kullman
Daniel Macina
Emily Blank
Gabby Lundgren
Ian Lundgren
Juliette Paineau
Kirstyn Loyva
Mia Werger
Nicole Shultz
Pauline Reby
Shaylee Hoff
TJ Middlebrook
Alex Michels
Anne Knofcynski
Catherine (Cat) Wagner
David Trombold
Emily Elzinga
Gabe Boyer
Isabel McClellan
Kassidy Whethers
Liam O'Connor
Mike Ayensu-Mensah
Noah Bell
RaeAnn Krull
Shelby Gresch
Tara Wood