Leu Lectures
The first Leu Distinguished Lecture was in 1998 and served as the beginning of an annual lecture to honor the grassland heritage of Nebraska. Frank and Margaret Leu had a deep passion for education and vision for sustaining the stewardship of the Nebraska grasslands for future generations. Through the knowledge and insights of the Leu Distinguished Lecturers, Frank and Margaret Leu's vision is now and forever part of our grassland legacy.
Current and past year's Leu Distinguished Lecturers are listed below.
Leu Lecturers by Year
2021 — M. Francesca CotrufoAdvancing Understanding of Soil Organic Matter to Address XXI Century Wicked Challenges
Dr. M. Francesca Cotrufo is a professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University (CSU). She earned B.Sc. from the University of Naples, Italy and Ph.D. from Lancaster University, UK. Prior to join CSU in 2008, she worked as a professor at University of Campania, Italy. Dr. Cotrufo is a soil ecologist and biogeochemist, internationally recognized for her work in the field of litter decomposition and soil organic matter dynamics, and in the use of isotopic methodologies in these studies. She strives to advance understanding of the mechanisms and drivers of formation and persistence of soil organic matter, and their response to global environmental changes and disturbances. She uses this understanding to improve modelling of soil C-climate feedbacks to inform climate and land use policy and management. She also pursues applied research to innovate and increase throughput of soil carbon and health testing, and to propose soil management practices that regenerate healthy soils and mitigate climate change. As a scientist fully aware of the current and future challenges expecting humanity, Dr. Cotrufo is interested in promoting research education, and outreach activities to help mitigating the current human impacts on the Earth System and assure a better sustainable path for humanity. Dr. Cotrufo is editor of the journal Global Change Biology. To date she published over 130 peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters. She has been the recipient of the SSSA Soil Science Research Award, the CSU Provost 14’er Award for Faculty Excellence, and the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Mentoring Award. Recently, she was recognized as Nutrien Distinguished Scholar of Agricultural Sciences, SSSA Francis E. Clark Distinguished Lecturer, and CSU Distinguished Resident Ecologist.
2020 — Sam FuhlendorfRangeland Ecology, Conservation, Pyric Herbivory, and Monitoring
Dr. Sam Fuhlendorf is a Regents Professor and Groendyke Chair in Wildlife Management in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM) at Oklahoma State University. He will be the 2020 Leu Lecturer for the CGS Fall Seminar Series and will be presenting on rangeland ecology, conservation, pyric herbivory, and monitoring.
2019 — Martin MassengaleA 25-year Review of the Center for Grassland Studies
Martin A. Massengale is President, Chancellor, Founding Director and Foundation Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of Nebraska. A native of Kentucky, he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Kentucky University and his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin. A nationally renowned agronomist, Dr. Massengale has extensive teaching, administrative and research experience. He is a Certified Professional Agronomist and a Certified Professional Crop Scientist and has served as an agricultural consultant to Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the U.S.S.R., Indonesia, Morocco, as well as throughout the United States. Dr. Massengale served on numerous boards of directors for larger financial institutions, insurance companies, hospitals, and communication organizations within the state. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation and the Lincoln Rotary Club #14 Foundation along with chair of its Investment Committee. Dr. Massengale was named Nebraskan of the Year in 2017.
2018 — Chuck WestRole of Forage Crops and Grazing in the Water-Limited Texas High Plains
West's current research concentrates on quantifying the water use of forage crops and pastures as
affected by grazing management in an effort to integrate forages into row-crop systems as a way to reduce
the use of irrigation water while sustaining profitability of Texas High Plains agricultural systems. His
recent work is on integrating grazing systems into a cotton systems, and provide an analysis of the water
footprint of beef stocker systems as affected by the inclusion of alfalfa in a predominant grass system.
West received his bachelor of science and master's degree in agronomy from the University of Minnesota -
St. Paul, and his doctorate in crop production/physiology from Iowa State University. He directs and
coordinates the Texas Coalition for Sustainable Integrated Systems Research and the Texas Alliance for
Water Conservation.
2017 — David BriskeA Rangeland Odyssey: From Equilibrium to Non-equilibrium and Beyond
David D. Briske is the T.M. O’Connor & Regents Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science
& Management at Texas A&M University. His scholarship and pedagogy have focused on the
ecological function and management strategies of global rangelands throughout his career. His initial
research addressed the physiology and demography of grasses, it then progressed to ecological resilience
and climate change, and he is currently investigating rangelands as social-ecological systems. He served as
the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Rangeland Ecology & Management from 2008 to 2015. He has
edited and contributed to the volumes entitled Conservation Benefits of Rangeland Practices (USDA
2011) and Rangeland Systems: Processes, Management and Challenges (Springer 2017).
2016 — Paul GenhoFifty Years: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Paul Genho is a Visiting Professor at the University of Florida, and an independent consultant to
various agricultural firms. He served as President of Farmland Reserve, Inc., and Chairman of the Board of
AgReserves, Inc. from 2005-2014, retiring from that position in June 2014. Prior to that, he managed
Deseret Ranches of Florida for 17 years before moving to King Ranch in Texas where he was Vice President
and General Manager for seven years. Dr. Genho has a doctorate in animal science from the Univeristy of
Florida and has served in numerous leadership positions within the National Cattlemen's Beef Association,
scientific, agricultural, and academic communities. He has over 50 years of experience in acquiring and
managing agricultural properties worldwide.
2015 — Greg LardyTrends Driving Change in the Beef Industry
Dr. Lardy received his bachelor degree in animal and range sciences from North Dakota State University
(NDSU), a master’s in animal and range sciences, ruminant nutrition from the University of Missouri, and a
doctorate in animal science, ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to his
current appointment as department head, he was the state beef cattle specialist at NDSU. Areas of expertise
include cow-calf nutrition, beef cattle management, use of alternative feedstuffs in beef cattle diets, and
forage supplementation.
2014 — David BohnertTrends Driving Change in the Beef Industry
Dr. Bohnert is a Ruminant Nutritionist and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist with Oregon State University
stationed at the Eastern Oregon Agriculture Research Center in Burns, OR. He received his bachelors and
masters degrees in animal science from Angelo State University and his doctorate in ruminant nutrition from
the University of Kentucky. He joined the research group at the Eastern Oregon Agriculture Research Center
in 1998. His current research focuses on nutritional management strategies to improve the sustainability of
beef production in the Intermountain West. In 2005 he received the Young Scientist Award from the
Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science and in 2016 the Briskey Award for Faculty
Excellence at Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences.
2013 — Anthony JoernVariable Fire, Grazing, and Climate Interactions Promote Habitat Heterogeneity and Biodiversity in Tallgrass Prairie
Joern received his B.S from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in Zoology and his Ph. D from the
University of Texas at Austin in Zoology and Population Biology- Insect Ecology. He is a professor at
Kansas State University and is leader of Joern Labs studying Herbivory Impact on Grasslands. He is
continuing to address the importance of non-linear dynamic interactions among species as key factors
driving grasshopper population processes. Lastly, he is interested in comparative grassland ecology with an
emphasis on herbivores. He tries to link his current and past research within the general context of
grazing systems, including both bison and cattle. He conducts research in both the Nebraska Sand
Hills grassland, a huge natural sand dune system, and Konza Prairie, a tallgrass prairie with bison grazing
and fire manipulations. Some related work is planned for desert short grass prairie in New Mexico
based at the Sevilleta Biological Field Station.
2012 — David EngleCan Production Agriculture and Conservation of Biodiversity Co-exist on Great Plains Rangelands?
Dr. Engle's research is to determine the influence of rangeland management and other land management
activities on ecosystem and landscape properties, including nutrient cycling, threatened and endangered
species, and critical habitats,and help develop technologies that protect the rangeland resource
from degradation and to promote sustainability of rangeland resources. This includes mitigating the
influence on the environment of rangeland management practices, low-density urban sprawl, and invasive
species.Currently his research interests include ecology and management of prairie and savannah, and
prescribed burning and fire ecology in grasslands and upland forests.
2011 — Jack MorganEffect of Global Climate Change on Grasslands of the Great Plains
Dr. Jack Morgan is a retired plant physiologist/collaborator with the Rangeland Resources Research Unit,
USDA-Agriculture Research Service. His training and experience was in photosynthesis, plant/soil water
relations, and physiological plant ecology of native grasslands. His research emphasis was in understanding
the effects of global climate change on western rangelands. Much of his career was on conducting research
to better understand how future CO2-enriched atmospheres, warmer temperature and altered precipitation will
affect the ecology and sustainability of Great Plains grasslands, and using that knowledge to develop
management practices that will be appropriate for future environments. Dr. Morgan was recognized for his
work in Global Change Research, and awarded the CO-LABS 2010 Governor’s Award for High-Impact Research,
which honors researchers for their outstanding work and its impact on our world.
2010 — Trey PattersonA Systems Approach to Grassland Management
Dr. Trey Patterson received a bachelors and master's in animal science from Colorado State University;
his doctorate degree in ruminant nutrition was from the University of Nebraska. Trey served as an
Extension Beef Specialist for South Dakota State University for five years where he led statewide extension
and research programs in beef cattle nutrition and management. Since 2005, Trey has been with Padlock
Ranch Company based out of Ranchester, Wyoming. He held the position of Chief Operations Officer
until 2014, leading operations for the ranch and working with the management team to develop and implement
strategies to improve ranch profitability and sustainability. Trey now holds the position of President and
CEO.
2009 — Terry RileyRestoring Great Plains Grassland Landscapes
Dr. Terry Riley has a bachelor’s degree in fish and wildlife biology from Kansas State University, a
master’s degree in wildlife science from New Mexico State University, and a master’s and doctorate degrees
in zoology from The Ohio State University. He is a certified wildlife biologist, outdoorsman, and amateur
vintner. Dr. Riley has been associated in various capacities with the Partners in Amphibian and Reptile
Conservation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, North American
Grouse Partnership, Wildlife Management Institute, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. Forest
Service.
2008 — Dennis OjimaGrasslands: Adapting to Global Change
Dr. Dennis Ojima is a Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and a Senior Research
Scientist in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory in the Warner College of Natural Resources
at Colorado State University as well as co-leads the Department Of Interior North Central Climate Science
Center. His research areas include global change effects on ecosystems around the world. His research
addresses climate and land use changes on ecosystems, carbon accounting methods for forest carbon
sequestration, and adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change. He has been recognized for his
international contributions in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment receiving which received the 2005 Zayed
International Prize for the Environment and the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 Nobel
Peace Prize. Professor Ojima received his PhD from the Rangeland Ecosystem Science Department at Colorado
State University in 1987.
2007 — Burke TeichertManaging Rangelands with Cattle and Wildlife for Ecological Sustainability and Economic Return
Consultant, speaker, and contract manager throughout the United States, England, Australia, and New
Zealand. Treichert has served as a university faculty member, cattle ranch manager, and cattle reproduction
specialist. He promotes low-input strategy to grazing and analysis of overheads and gross margins.
2006 — Rod HeitschmidtSome Observations on the Ecology, Economics, and Sustainability of Great Plains Rangeland Agriculture
Dr. Rodney Heitschmidt received a bachelor’s in botany from Fort Hays State University, a
master’s and doctorate from Colorado State University in rangeland ecology. Dr. Heitschmidt worked
with the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station focusing on grazing management and associated
disciplines. Later, he took a position with the USDA Agriculture Research Service’s Fort Keogh
Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, where his research was on developing effective
grazing/drought management tactics and strategies. He retired from LARRL in 2001. Dr. Heitschmit
has authored or co-authored many articles, book chapters, and abstracts, and made numerous
presentations throughout his lifetime. In addition, he served in various capacities for several
Society of Range Management sections. Professional awards include the Society for Range
Management’s (SRM) Outstanding Achievement Award, Fellow Award, Renner Award, and the America/World
Agriculture Award, to name a few.
2005 — David BriskeState and Transition Models and Ecological Thresholds: Bridging Theory and Application
David D. Briske is the T.M. O’Connor & Regents Professor in the Department of
Ecosystem Science & Management at Texas A&M University. His scholarship and
pedagogy have focused on the ecological function and management strategies of global
rangelands throughout his career. His initial research addressed the physiology and
demography of grasses, it then progressed to ecological resilience and climate change, and
he is currently investigating rangelands as social-ecological systems. He served as the
Editor-in-Chief of the journal Rangeland Ecology & Management from 2008 to
2015. He has edited and contributed to the volumes entitled Conservation Benefits of
Rangeland Practices (USDA 2011) and Rangeland Systems: Processes, Management and
Challenges (Springer 2017).
2004 — Thomas BouttonWoody Plant Invasion of Grassland: Implications for the Carbon Cycle
Dr. Boutton is interested in the ecology of grassland and savanna ecosystems,
particularly the impacts of land cover/land use changes on ecosystem processes
(productivity, decomposition, biogeochemistry, hydrology). His work is oriented towards
understanding the influence of woody plant invasion into grasslands and savannas on
biogeochemistry and soil biology, as well as understanding ecosystem responses to global
changes predicted for the future. The effects of climate, land use, and atmospheric
composition on ecosystem structure and function are being investigated at time scales
ranging from a few years (contemporary ecosystems) to thousands of years (paleo
ecosystems), and spatial scales ranging from the soil aggregate to the landscape. Dr.
Boutton serves as Director of the Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry Laboratory.
2003 — Richard KnightFor the Health of the Land: Honest Conversation about Land Use
Dr. Knight's recent study led him to believe cattle ranches may be the best hope for
preserving habitat for many varieties of native species. The 2000-2001 study, Knight and
colleagues compared data on songbird, mammalian carnivore, and plant commmunities on three
types of land uses: private ranches, public protected areas, and exurban developments
(ranchettes). Results showed that overall, the ranches had the healthiest grasslands,
fewest number of weeds and least amount of bare ground.
2002 — Vivien AllenGrassland Ecosystems: Pieces of the Puzzle
Dr. Allen has responsibilities in teaching and research at Texas Tech University. Her
areas of expertise are: design and development of forage/livestock systems with emphasis on
maximizing use of forages and grazing to protect natural resources, improve nutrient
management, profitability, energy efficiency, and animal performance, for long-term
productivity; production, management, physiology, forage quality and antiquality factor of
forages; and mineral nutrition in the soil/plant/animal system. Recent awards and honors
include American Forage and Grassland Council Medallion Award, Barnie E. Rushing Jr.
Distinguished Research Award, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource’s Research Award,
Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Contributions to Agriculture Award, named a Faculty Associate
in the TTU Economic Development Resource Center, Crop Science Society of America Fellow,
and American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow.
2001 — Richard HartBison and How They Shaped the Great Plains Rangelands
Dr. Richard Hart earned a master’s in agronomy from Iowa State and a doctorate in crop
science from Oregon State. He worked as a Research Agronomist for the University of Georgia
and at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia before transferring to the
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) as a research agronomist. Eventually, Dr. Hart
found his way to the newly-named High Plains Grasslands Research Station in Cheyenne,
Wyoming we he served as a research agronomist and a rangeland scientist; he retired from
the USDA ARS in 2001. Dr. Hart received the Chapline Research Award of the Society for
Range Management, and was named Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. His research
accomplishments are documented in over 300 publications, which made him a sought after
guest lecturer across the country.
2000 — David BarkerBiodiversity in New Zealand Grasslands
Dr. David Barker is a professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at
The Ohio State University. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degree at Massey
University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, and his doctorate at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE. Dr. Barker’s research interests include production and
performance of forages within grazing systems, biodiversity effects on forage production
and performance, and drought effects on forage production and performance. His goal is to
establish a nationally and internationally recognized research program in forage crop
physiology and management, with the aim of improving cropping and utilization systems in an
environmentally-sensitive and ecologically-compatible manner.
2000 — Scott CollinsSpatial and Temporal Dynamics in Tallgrass Prairie
Dr. Collins is the Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of New Mexico.
He received his doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, masters from Miami University,
and bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University. Dr. Collins served as the program
director at the National Science Foundation working with programs like Ecology, Long-term
Ecological Research, Conservation and Restoration Biology, TECO, and Integrated Research
Challenges. His research uses both long-term measurements and experimental manipulations to
determine how disturbances, such as fire and drought, interact with global environmental
change to affect arid land plant community composition structure. Dr. Collins has chaired
many committees, served on various boards, and serves as Editor-in Chief of
BioScience. A partial list of research interests includes plant community
dynamics, gradient models and structure, effects of N deposition on herbaceous communities,
and analysis of species distribution and abundance.
1999 — Steve ArcherTrees in Grasslands: Historical Changes and Ecological Consequence
Steve Archer is a Professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at
the University of Arizona with appointments in the Global Change, Arid Lands Resource
Sciences, and Remote Sensing & Spatial Analysis Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. A
Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. Archer has a BA in
Liberal Arts from Augustana College (Sioux Falls) and a MS and PhD in Rangeland Ecosystem
Science from Colorado State University. Trained as a plant ecologist and ecosystem
scientist, Dr. Archer has worked in Arctic Tundra, Great Plains and Southwestern Desert
ecosystems. His research has centered around plant-animal interactions with a focus on
grazing impacts on ecosystem structure and function. Population, transition probability and
dynamic ecosystem simulation models are used in conjunction with remote sensing,
dendrochronology and stable isotope chemistry to reconstruct vegetation history and to
project the consequences of vegetation change on the sustainability of grazing systems,
ecosystem biogeochemistry and land surface-atmosphere interactions. Field and laboratory
experiments on the population biology of grasses and shrub growth forms are emphasized in
the context of landscape ecology, succession and historical land–use practices. Research
support includes major funding from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the US
Department of Agriculture.
1998 — William LaycockTrue Grassland Restoration - Is it Possible?
Dr. Laycock is a retired head of the Department of Rangeland Ecology and Watershed
Management at the University of Wyoming.