Our Team
External Advisory Board | Research Team | Extension and Outreach Team | Education Team | Principal Investigators | Graduate Fellows | Teacher Mentors | SBAR Alumni
The SBAR team has experienced engineers, plant scientists, educators, and extension professionals working to optimize the production of guayule and guar to enable the Southwest to significantly impact biofuels and other high-value markets. Many team members work in multiple project components, which ensures a more integrated project approach. The team meets annually at the University of Arizona to review accomplishments and chart future strategies and specific annual goals.
Advisors
Chris Cassidy
USDA Rural Development
Matthew Chavez
Independent Grower
Steve Csonka
Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI)
Mark DeDecker
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Gary Deen
Independent Grower, Double D Farms Partnership
Bill Goldner
USDA NIFA
John Holladay
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Chris Kuzdas
Environmental Defense Fund
Homer Marks
Southwest Indian Agriculture Association
Newt McCarty
NM Cooperative Extension
Jaroy Moore
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center
Alex Muravijov
Guar Resources
Paco Ollerton
Independent Grower, Tierra Verde Farms
Matt Payne
West Water Research, Inc.
Research Team
Avery Luna
USDA–Agricultural Research Service
Austin Banks
Colorado State University
Geneva Ben
New Mexico State University
Pedro Castillo
New Mexico State University
Connor Chaney
University of Arizona
Yongjian Chen
University of Arizona
Niu Dong
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Chen Dong
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Tristan Dunton
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Leonel Fournier
New Mexico State University
Ryan Fullerton
New Mexico State University
Saba Gill
New Mexico State University
Harmony Glover
USDA–Agricultural Research Service
Trinh Huynh
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Aaron Judkins
University of Arizona
Kelly Laje
New Mexico State University
Jessica Ledesma
University of Arizona
Hasti Mozaffari
New Mexico State University
Livvi Pearson
University of Arizona
Alexandra Peck
University of Arizona
Dante Placido
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Grisel Ponciano
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Rusell Prock
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Mariano Resendiz
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Juan Salas
University of Arizona
Grant Stoner
New Mexico State University
Aaron Szczepanek
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Victoria Valenzuela
New Mexico State University
Brandon Vera
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Daniel Zuniga-Vazquez
University of Arizona
Extension and Outreach Team
Rowen Allen
New Mexico State University
Ken Cazarez
New Mexico State University
Adah Gellis
New Mexico State University
Taylor Levi
University of Arizona
Michael Mares
New Mexico State University
Julie Miller
New Mexico State University
Victor Velazquez
New Mexico State University
Education Team
Teacher Mentors
Valentina Andrew
Saguaro National Park Environmental Education, Arizona
Cathy Bradley
Sierra Middle School, New Mexico
Jaime Camero
Walter Douglas Elementary School, Arizona
Priscilla Fischback
Apollo Middle School, Arizona
Felecia Hinton-Causey
Santa Rosa Ranch School, Arizona
Traci Klein
Valencia Middle School, Arizona
Tracie Mikesell
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy, New Mexico
Margaret Strand
Camino Real Middle School, New Mexico
Melissa Wilburn
Quail Run Elementary School, Arizona
Graduate Fellows
SBAR Alumni
Ram Acharya
New Mexico State University
Sarah Acquah
New Mexico State University
Milagro Adom
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Nick Ashley
University of Arizona
Sheyla Aucar
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Meshack Audu
New Mexico State University
Valerie Bailey
New Mexico State University
Megan Bennett
University of Arizona
Nick Bisley
University of Arizona
Daniela Cabrera
University of Arizona
Matthew Canonizado
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Nicolas “Nico” Carrero-Little
New Mexico State University
Adrianna Chambers
Central Arizona College (Project Puente intern)
George Chong
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
German Coronado
University of Arizona
Amber Dearstyne
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Pragnya Eranki
Colorado School of Mines
Krista Farmer
University of Arizona
Miguel Flores
New Mexico State University
Sarah Fox
New Mexico State University
Thomas Gloria
New Mexico State University
Daryan Godfrey
University of Arizona
Chloe Gonzalez
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; Project Puente intern
Befekadu Habteyes
New Mexico State University
Matthew Harmon
University of Arizona
Stephanie Honeker
University of Arizona
Jack Johnson
Colorado State University
Pujan Kafle
University of Arizona
Kasia Kiela
University of Arizona
Travis Le-Doux
New Mexico State University
Greg Leake
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Taylor Levy
University of Arizona
Jasmine Lopez
University of Arizona
Esai Lopez
New Mexico State University
Alberto Lorenzo
New Mexico State University
Sicilee Macklin
New Mexico State University
Celestina Marinez
University of Arizona, Project Puente intern
Cesar Martinez-Bejarano
New Mexico State University
Wenzhe Mi
Salpointe Catholic High School (Project Puente intern)
Madison Montes
University of Arizona
Sa’Rae Montoya
New Mexico State University
Kyle Moore
New Mexico State University
Andrew Nelson
University of Arizona
Shaira Perez
University of Arizona
Sam Pernu
University of Arizona
Kaavya Polisetti
New Mexico State University
Camila Prieto
New Mexico State University
Lucas Ramirez
New Mexico State University
Jaspreet Rekhi
University of Arizona
Joram Robbs
New Mexico State University
Kimberly Salinas
New Mexico State University
Nathan Schavz
New Mexico State University
Tarah Schuman
New Mexico State University
Peter Skelton
New Mexico State University
Kyra Skuse
Chandler High School (Project Puente intern)
Ana Lucia Soto
University of Arizona, Project Puente intern
Ou Sun
University of Arizona
Stephen Taylor
New Mexico State University
Mira Theilmann
University of Arizona
Mira Theilmann
University of Arizona
Christine Toering
University of Arizona
Brian Treftz
New Mexico State University
Justin Valdez
New Mexico State University
Gianni Velasco
University of Arizona
Gloria Vill Barbosa
University of Arizona
Quinn Waltz
University of Arizona
Stephanie Willette
New Mexico State University
John Willmon
University of Arizona
Scott Woolf
New Mexico State University
Jocelyn Zhu
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (summer intern)