Our Team
Our work exists because of our relationships with each other and the communities involved in our work. This effort transcends academic institutions but is made possible through appointments at our home institutions.
Lauri M. Baker
Founder
Lauri is an associate professor in agricultural communications at the University of Florida. She is a co-creator of The Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement. Lauri’s research and grant work are focused on new and social media, agenda setting, decision-making, and public discourse. She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in agricultural communications from the University of Florida.
Cheryl R. Boyer
Founder
Cheryl is an associate professor and extension specialist for nursery crop production and marketing at Kansas State University. She is a co-creator of The Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement and holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and M.S. in horticulture from Oklahoma State University. Her doctoral degree in horticulture was earned at Auburn University in 2008. Cheryl’s research is focused on ornamental plants and new-and social-media.
Hikaru H. Peterson
Founder
Hikaru is professor of agricultural economics at the University of Minnesota. She is a co-creator of The Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural economics from Cornell University. Her research area is food and agricultural marketing with emphasis on consumer issues. She teaches courses in agricultural economics.
Audrey King
Fellow
Dr. King is an assistant professor of agricultural communications in the department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership and Digital Media State Extension Specialist at Oklahoma State University. Audrey’s research interests include branding, rural community vitality, place-branding, internal communication, and the longevity of land-grant institutions.
Michaela Kandzer
Communications Specialist
