Katy Chapman

Katy Chapman, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Sustainability Coordinator at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She holds affiliations with the Center for Sustainability and the Math, Science and Technology Department. Her roles include teaching, research leadership, and program coordination in sustainability initiatives.

Dr. Chapman earned a B.S. in Biology (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of North Dakota (2001), a Graduate Teaching Certificate from Purdue University (2005), and a Ph.D. in Environmental Soil Science from Purdue’s Department of Agronomy (2005). She maintains professional memberships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society of Agronomy, and Soil Science Society of America.

Her research focuses on soil health, greenhouse gas mitigation, and phytoremediation. Key areas include carbon dynamics in agricultural soils, ammonia volatilization, and novel soil gas monitoring methodologies. She explores sustainable practices like plant-based remediation of polluted soils and optimizing fertilizer use to reduce emissions.

Recent work emphasizes internationalizing curricula, with publications on integrating global learning into environmental science programs. Her 2025 book Power of One highlights strategies for internationalizing student experiences. Articles from 2024-2025 address water conservation in turfgrass systems and fertilizer impacts on emissions.

• Awards: 2020 Distinguished Faculty Service Award, 2017 Distinguished Scholar Award, and over 15 honors including scholarships and fellowships.
• Grants & Advising: Leads projects on sustainable agriculture funded by USDA and NSF; mentors students in soil science and environmental policy.
• Labs/Teams: Coordinates the University’s Sustainability Initiative and collaborates with the Center for Instructional Excellence on pedagogical innovation.