Hale Ann Tufan

Hale Ann Tufan is an Associate Professor at Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section. She leads the Equitable Agricultural Research (EQUAL) Lab and serves as Associate Director for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, while co-leading the Gender Responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation (GREAT) project and the Muhogo Bora cassava initiative in Tanzania.

• 2019 Norman Borlaug Field Award
• 2024 Kathy Druckman Berggren Diversity and Inclusion Award
• 2023 Einhorn Center Engaged Learning Fellowship
• 2023 PCCW Affinito Stewart Award

Her research focuses on integrating gender equality into agricultural systems through three key areas: developing frameworks for inclusive crop improvement, creating participatory research tools that bridge plant breeding with gender analysis, and examining intrahousehold dynamics in seed systems. Recent publications demonstrate her work in participatory breeding programs, intersectional gender analysis, and data-driven approaches to address smallholder farmers' heterogeneous needs.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Biology (John Innes Centre, UK), MSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics (Bogazici University), BSc in Biochemistry with Chemistry minor (Colorado State University), and a Certificate in Africa and International Development (University of Edinburgh). She actively contributes to university governance through multiple diversity and inclusion committees and serves as Faculty Fellow at Clara Dickson Hall.

• 2024-25: Cornell-led $4.8M cassava seed system expansion in Tanzania
• 2023-24: CTI workshop series on teaching innovation
• 2022-2023: Leadership in NextGen Cassava and RTB Breeding projects