Michelle Schroeder-Moreno

Dr. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno is the W.K. Kellogg Endowed Distinguished Chair in Sustainable Community-Based Food Systems and Agroecology Professor in the Department of Horticulture Science at North Carolina State University (NC State). She serves as Director of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), a partnership between NC State, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Her academic roles include teaching and developing courses such as Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230), Advanced Agroecology (CS 430/530), and Study Abroad programs in Costa Rica and Uruguay.

Education: PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (University of Miami, 2003); BS in Applied Ecology (University of California Irvine, 1996).

Research Interests: Agroecology, sustainable food systems, soil health, and community food security. She focuses on student-centered learning, organic farming practices, and equitable food systems. Key projects include the Agroecology Education Farm at NC State’s Lake Wheeler Field Station, which integrates education with sustainable food production for campus dining.

Grants & Awards: Led over $9 million in grants, including USDA-funded initiatives on food system resilience and veteran farmer apprenticeships. Recognized with the 2019 USDA APLU National Teaching Award for innovation in agroecology education.

• Grants:
  • "An Integrated Project to Enhance Food Security" ($3.97M, USDA, 2012–2018)
  • "Boots On the Ground: North Carolina's Veteran Farmer Apprenticeship" ($626K, USDA, 2021–2025)
• Labs & Programs:
  • CEFS oversees 2,000+ acres for sustainable agriculture research, including organic grain/vegetable production, agroforestry, and food equity initiatives.
  • Agroecology Education Farm collaborates with NC State Dining to supply campus eateries with local produce.

Advising & Outreach: Mentor to numerous students and co-developer of NC State’s Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems B.S. program. CEFS provides career training via internships, apprenticeships, and the CEFS Fellows program for graduate students.