Matt Raven

Matt R. Raven is a Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University. He serves as Coordinator for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Education and is a faculty coordinator at the Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center (UPREC) in Chatham, Michigan, with responsibilities in community food systems. His academic background includes:

• B.S. in Plant Science (Agronomy and Range Science), University of California at Davis
• Ag Specialist and Life Science Teaching Credentials, University of California at Davis
• Masters in Agricultural Education, Kansas State University
• Ph.D. in Agricultural Education, The Ohio State University

Dr. Raven's research integrates three interconnected domains: pedagogical approaches in higher education, innovation diffusion in sustainable agriculture, and holistic food-soil-human health systems with emphasis on grazing livestock for soil regeneration. His work bridges academic theory with community-scale applications.

His publications (2017-2022) demonstrate consistent focus on sustainable agriculture education, soil health innovation, and rural outreach. Research trends reflect applied interdisciplinary work connecting environmental science, education theory, and community development.

Awards:

• Distinguished Teacher Award (Michigan State University, 2020)

Leadership & Grants:
Coordinates MSU's Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource teacher preparation program. Secured major external funding including a $19M soil health initiative (2022) and future farming grants (2017). Leads field operations and community partnerships through UPREC.