Chris Wiegman, Chair
PhD Candidate in Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering
Chris received a bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering with a minor in Molecular Genetics from The Ohio State University in 2016. He is currently in the fourth year of a PhD program in Agricultural Engineering, focusing on utilizing drones and developing novel sensor platforms for remote image acquisition. Additional research efforts include image classification with convolutional neural nets for automated stress diagnosis and wireless communication networks for sensor control and vehicle automation.
Adrian Pekarcik, Wooster Vice Chair
PhD Candidate in Entomology
Adrian is a 4th year Ph.D. candidate advised by Dr. Kelley Tilmon in the Department of Entomology at the Wooster campus. His research focuses on the biology and management of the Asiatic garden beetle, an emerging pest of field crops in the Great Lakes region. Adrian graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2014 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies. He worked briefly with the National Park Service at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio before completing his Master of Science degree in Entomology from Auburn University. Adrian currently serves as Vice-President and Treasurer of the Entomology Graduate Student Association.
April White, Columbus Vice Chair
PhD Student in the OSU Nutrition Program
April received her master’s in Animal Sciences with a specialization in ruminant nutrition and mathematical programming models from the Ohio State University in 2020. She is a first-year PhD student in the OSU Nutrition program, advised by Dr. Jeff Firkins, specializing in ruminant nutrition and microbiology. She is active within the Animal Sciences department at Ohio State as the secretary of the Animal Science Graduate Student Association and publishes a bi-monthly extension article in Buckeye Dairy News. In addition to her work in agriculture, April is a mental health advocate and volunteers with OSU’s suicide prevention program REACH trainings.
Benjamin Duran, Records Administrator
PhD Student in Animal Sciences
Benjamin is a 3rd year PhD student in Animal Science studying Reproductive Physiology at the Columbus campus, advised by Dr. Alvaro Garcia Guerra, specifically studying the maintenance of the corpus luteum during the second month of gestation in beef cattle. He is originally from Browns Valley, California and received his B.S. In Animal Science (2016) and M.S. in Animal Science Reproductive Physiology (2018) from Iowa State University. He is active within the Animal Science Department at Ohio State, where he serves as president of the Animal Science Graduate Student Association and serves as the department delegate for the Council of Graduate Students.
Taylor Klass, Social Chair
PhD Candidate in Plant Pathology
Taylor is a 3rd year PhD candidate in Plant Pathology at the Columbus campus co-advised by Dr. Jonathan Jacobs and Dr. Sally Miller. She is originally from Worthington, Ohio and received her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Ohio State in 2018, with a double major in Animal Sciences and Agronomy. Taylor’s research is focused on diagnostics, diversity, and management of bacterial plant pathogens that infect and impact vegetable crops. She is passionate about tropical plant pathology and global food security. In her department, Taylor serves as the secretary for the Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association. Additionally, she is the current Vice-Chair of the American Phytopathological Society Graduate Student Committee.
The GSAC advisor is the CFAES Grad Ed Coordinator, Kayla Arnold.