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Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture

Home » Team

Meet the IHA team

World class researchers and scientific leaders of The Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture work in three synergistic areas of focus, precision nutrition, responsive agriculture and healthy living. Meet our team members below.

IHA Leadership 

  • A woman with short-cropped brown hair wears a black shirt and gray blazer, and smiles at the camera.

    Teresa A. Davis

    Ph.D., D.F.A.S.N., F.A.S.A.S.

    Director of the IHA

    Teresa Ann Davis, Ph.D., D.F.A.S.N., F.A.S.A.S., is the Director of Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, IHA, the world’s first research institute to bring together precision nutrition, responsive agriculture, and behavioral research to reduce diet-related chronic disease…

  • Rebecca Seguin-Fowler

    Rebecca Seguin-Fowler

    Ph.D., R.D.N., L.D., C.S.C.S.

    IHA Associate Director, Healthy Living

  • Marco Palma

    Marco Palma

    Ph.D.

    IHA Interim Associate Director, Responsive Agriculture

IHA Members

  • Azlan Zahid

    Azlan Zahid

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

  • Beth Racine

    Beth Racine

    Dr.P.H., R.D.

    Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at El Paso Center Director and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Associate Department Head for Nutrition Extension

  • Bhimu Patil

    Bhimu Patil

    Ph.D.

    Professor and Director, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center​

  • Brian King

    Brian King

    Ph.D.

    Professor and Department Head, Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism

  • Bruce McCarl

    Bruce McCarl

    Ph.D.

    University Distinguished Professor and Leader of Research​

  • Carlos A. Avila

    Carlos A. Avila

    Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences

  • Cathy Ross

    Cathy Ross

    Ph.D.

    Maternal/Child Cohort Study Scientific Project Director

  • Chaodong Wu

    Chaodong Wu

    Ph.D.

    Professor of Nutrition, Presidential Impact Fellow, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow

  • Charlie Hall

    Charlie Hall

    Ph.D.

    Professor & Ellison Chair, Horticultural Sciences

  • Chia-Shan “Jenny” Wu

    Chia-Shan “Jenny” Wu

    Ph.D.

    Instructional Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition

  • Chris Hollenbeck

    Chris Hollenbeck

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research

  • Daniel Leskovar

    Daniel Leskovar

    Ph.D.

    Professor and Center Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Dallas and Uvalde

  • Dmitry Kurouski

    Dmitry Kurouski

    Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering​

  • George Elane

    George Elane

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Services

  • Heidi Vanden Brink

    Heidi Vanden Brink

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Nutrition

  • Holli Leggette

    Holli Leggette

    Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications

  • Hong Liang

    Hong Liang

    Ph.D.

    Professor, Mechanical Engineering; Oscar S. Wyatt Jr. Professor; Affiliated Faculty, Materials Science & Engineering and Multidisciplinary Engineering

  • Hyunjung “Grace” Lee

    Hyunjung “Grace” Lee

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Nutrition

  • Jeff Tomberlin

    Jeff Tomberlin

    Ph.D.

    Professor, AgriLife Research Fellow, Presidential Impact Fellow and Director, National Science Foundation Center for Environmental Sustainability Through Insect Farming​

  • Jenna Anding

    Jenna Anding

    Ph.D., R.D.N., L.D.

    Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Nutrition

  • John Jifon

    John Jifon

    Ph.D.

    Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences

  • Karl Clark

    Karl Clark

    Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science

  • Katelin Alfaro Hudak

    Katelin Alfaro Hudak

    Ph.D., MID

    Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition

  • Katie Lewis

    Katie Lewis

    Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Soil Fertility & Chemistry​

  • Kurt Zhang

    Kurt Zhang

    Ph.D.

    Professor, Department of Nutrition; Director, Rigor and Reproducibility Core at Texas A&M Health Science Center Institute of Biosciences & Technology

  • Limei Tian

    Limei Tian

    Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering

  • Luis Tedeschi

    Luis Tedeschi

    Ph.D.

    Professor, Animal Nutrition; Texas A&M AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow; Chancellor EDGES Fellow

  • Masako Suzuki

    Masako Suzuki

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor Department of Nutrition

  • Matthew Taylor

    Matthew Taylor

    Ph.D.

    Professor, Meat Science

  • Michael Polymenis

    Michael Polymenis

    Ph.D.

    Professor and Associate Head for Graduate Programs, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

  • Reza Ovissipour

    Reza Ovissipour

    Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology

  • Robert Chapkin

    Robert Chapkin

    Ph.D.

    Allen Endowed Chair in Nutrition & Chronic Disease Prevention, Distinguished Professor, Regents Professor, University Faculty Fellow, and NCI R35 Outstanding Investigator

  • Rodolfo M. Nayga, Jr.

    Rodolfo M. Nayga, Jr.

    Ph.D.

    Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics

  • Seockmo Ku

    Seockmo Ku

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology

  • Srividhya “Sri” Iyer

    Srividhya “Sri” Iyer

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology

  • Stephen Talcott

    Stephen Talcott

    Ph.D.

    Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology

  • Suresh Pillai

    Suresh Pillai

    Ph.D.

    Professor and Associate Department Head

  • Sylvie Estrela

    Sylvie Estrela

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor Department of Nutrition

  • Vijay Joshi

    Vijay Joshi

    Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences

  • Waylon Hastings

    Waylon Hastings

    Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Nutrition

  • William L. Rooney

    William L. Rooney

    Ph.D.

    Regents Professor, Borlaug-Monsanto Chair in International Crop Improvement, AgriLife Faculty Fellow, Sorghum Breeding & Genetics​

  • Yuxiang Sun

    Yuxiang Sun

    Ph.D., M.D.

    Professor Department of Nutrition, Associate Department Head for Graduate Programs, AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow

Affiliate Members

USDA Scientists

Faculty Scientists

Research Staff

  • Alisha George

    Research Associate

    alisha.george@ag.tamu.edu

  • Allyson Schaefers

    Senior Research Associate

    allyson.shaefers@ag.tamu.edu

  • Andrew McNeely

    Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    andrew.mcneely@ag.tamu.edu

  • Angel Christou

    Program Aide

    angel.christou@ag.tamu.edu

  • Man with close-cut dark hair wears a gray button-down shirt, crosses arms over chest and smiles at camera

    Antonio Carlos Ramos dos Santos

    M.S., Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    antonio.ramos@ag.tamu.edu

  • Byunggul “BG” Lim

    Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    bg.lim@ag.tamu.edu

  • Woman with dark hair stands in front of a multi-shaded green background and smiles at the camera

    Cassandra Beattie

    Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    cassandra.beattie@ag.tamu.edu

  • Woman with dark hair looks into camera in professional headshot, wearing white shirt with brown buttons and a charcoal blazer.

    Chika Miyamoto

    M.A.

    Research Specialist II

    chika.miyamoto@ag.tamu.edu

  • Cristina Arenaz

    M.S.

    Research Specialist II

    cristina.arenaz@ag.tamu.edu

  • Deven Pandeya

    Ph.D.

    Research Specialist III, IHA Core Lab

    devendra.pandeya@ag.tamu.edu

  • Deyaun Jafari

    Ph.D.

    Research Specialist

    deyaun.villarreal@ag.tamu.edu

  • Diane Mitchell

    M.S., R.D.

    Individualized Diet Exposure Assessment (IDEA) Center

    diane.mitchell@ag.tamu.edu

  • Emily Holbrook

    Research Assistant

    emily.holbrook@ag.tamu.edu

  • Emma Lewis

    Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    emma.lewis@ag.tamu.edu

  • Erica Bender

    M.S.N., C.N.M., NP.-Ob./Gyn.

    Maternal/Child Cohort Study Clinical Program Director

    erica.bender@ag.tamu.edu

  • Erika Largacha Cevallos

    Senior Research Associate

    erika.l@ag.tamu.edu

  • Man wearing glasses and a dark jacket smiles at camera in front of a cream-colored wall.

    Farid Islam

    Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    asmfaridul.islam@ag.tamu.edu

  • Gabi De Mello

    Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    gabi.demello@ag.tamu.edu

  • Galen Eldridge

    Research Specialist

    galen.eldridge@ag.tamu.edu

  • Woman with curly brown hair stands in front of a red brick building and smiles at camera

    Hannah Jeffery

    Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Researcher I

    hannah.jeffery@ag.tamu.edu

  • Woman with dark hair wears an olive colored blouse beneath a black blazer and smiles at the camera

    Johanna Andrews Trevino

    Ph.D.

    Senior Data Scientist

    j.andrewstrevino@ag.tamu.edu

  • A man with dark hair and a dark shirt beneath a white lab coat looks seriously into the camera

    Jun Oyanagi

    Ph.D.

    Senior Research Scientist

    jun.oyanagi@ag.tamu.edu

  • Woman with blonde hair in a white shirt smiles at camera with a leafy green tree in the background

    Katie Romo

    BSN, RN

    MHAC Clinical Manager

    katie.romo@ag.tamu.edu

  • A brunette woman wearing a black blazer smiles at the camera in front of a maroon background

    Kelly Fisher

    D.C.N., R.D., L.D., F.N.A.P.

    Scientific Chief of Staff

    kelly.fisher@ag.tamu.edu

  • Kendra Marstall

    Research Associate

    kendra.marstall@ag.tamu.edu

  • Lily Benner

    Research Specialist

    lily.benner@ag.tamu.edu

  • Meghan Kershaw

    Research Specialist

    meghan.kershaw@ag.tamu.edu

  • Meredith Graham

    Research and Evaluation Specialist

    meredith.graham@ag.tamu.edu

  • Natalie Halverson

    Nutrition Research Assistant

    natalie.halverson@ag.tamu.edu

  • A woman with dark hair wears a black polo embroidered with the IHA's logo and smiles at the camera in front of a white background

    Rose Parada

    Research Specialist IV

    rosemarie.parada@ag.tamu.edu

  • Sandra Perez

    P.M.P., M.I.P.P., M.S.

    Senior Research Specialist

    sandra.perez@ag.tamu.edu

  • Dark-haired woman smiles at camera in photography studio against a blue background

    Sanhita Chakraborty

    Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    sanhita.chakraborty@ag.tamu.edu

  • Vi Luong

    Program and Operations Manager/Senior Research Specialist

    vi.luong@ag.tamu.edu

  • Victoria Trevino

    Research Associate

    victoria.trevino@ag.tamu.edu

  • Whitney Mohr

    Research Associate

    whitney.mohr@ag.tamu.edu

Operations Staff

  • Arin Reeder

    Assistant Director for Operations

    Arin Reeder joined the Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, IHA, in 2022 as Assistant Director for Operations. She manages the implementation and coordination of all projects and activities within the IHA, overseeing strategic initiatives from development through…

  • Ashlee Woolard

    Ashlee Woolard

    Business Manager

    ashlee.woolard@ag.tamu.edu

  • Brian Curry

    Brian Curry

    Executive Assistant II

    brian.curry@ag.tamu.edu

  • Jamie Garcia

    Jamie Garcia

    Business Coordinator II

    jamie.garcia@ag.tamu.edu

  • Jennifer Ormond

    Jennifer Ormond

    Events and Conferences

    jennifer.ormond@ag.tamu.edu

  • Kristy Baty

    Kristy Baty

    Business Coordinator

    kristy.baty@ag.tamu.edu

  • Lindsay Hess

    Lindsay Hess

    Program Manager

    lindsay.hess@ag.tamu.edu

  • Matt Roth

    Matt Roth

    Fleet Manager

    matt.roth@ag.tamu.edu

  • Patrick Schilling

    Patrick Schilling

    Building Operations Manager

    patrick.schilling@ag.tamu.edu

  • Shanequa Suel

    Shanequa Suel

    Business Administrator

    shanequa.suel@ag.tamu.edu

Norman E. Borlaug building gleams in the setting sun against a cloud-dappled sky

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A Member of Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for
Advancing Health Through Agriculture

Norman E. Borlaug Building
498 Olsen Blvd
College Station, TX 77843

phone: 979.314.3280
email: theiha@ag.tamu.edu

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