Kate Tully

Kate Tully is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, affiliated with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She leads the Agroecology Lab and co-founded the non-profit Farm the District in Washington, DC.

• PhD in Ecology, University of Virginia (2011)
• MS in Ecology, University of Virginia (2007)
• BA in English, Spanish, and Biology, Kenyon College (2004)

Kate’s research focuses on the intersection of agriculture and ecology, particularly managing agroecosystems under climate change. Her work addresses sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion, climate-smart agricultural practices, cover crops for ecosystem services, and urban farming for food security. She investigates sustainable strategies in regions with limited land, water, and input access, such as East Africa and coastal zones.

Her publications span salinization impacts, soil nutrient dynamics, cover crop modeling, and climate change adaptation. Notable collaborations include studies on coastal agricultural resilience and agroecosystem carbon cycling, funded by USDA, NSF, and other agencies.

• Research Impact Fellow (2024-2025)
• US Fulbright Scholar (2023-2024)
• Dean’s Grantsmanship Award (2021, 2024)
• Earth Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship (2011-2014)

Kate co-developed a multi-university cover crops course and teaches Global Food Systems, Agroecology, and Independent Study in Agroecology. Her lab collaborates with farmers and interdisciplinary teams to test sustainable technologies in field settings.