Amanda Brown M.Ed.
Title: Director, UMass Student Farm and Agricultural Learning Center
Amanda Brown is a Senior Lecturer of Sustainable Food and Farming within the Stockbridge School of Agriculture faculty at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Early in her professional career, she focused on sustainable farming practices for vegetable and specialty crops as a researcher and educator with UMass Extension's Agriculture & Landscape Program. During that time, she co-founded the UMass Student Farming Enterprise. For almost two decades, Amanda has focused solely on the Student Farming Enterprise and has developed a year-long educational experience for students which touches on all aspects of managing a small farm.
Amanda received her academic degrees from the University of Massachusetts including an AS in Horticulture, BS in Plant Soil and Insect Science, and a master’s degree in Education. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Environmental Conservation. In addition to teaching and farming Amanda also serves as Director of the UMass Agricultural Learning Center. She has published several scientific articles related to sustainable agriculture technologies and presented her work to many growers, industry professionals, and colleagues.
Amanda can be reached at @email
Name: Nikki Burton M.S.
Position: Lecturer and Director of the Stockbridge Livestock program
Nikki is a Lecturer of Sustainable Food and Farming and brings over twenty years of farming experience to UMass. Nikki's teaching and research interests are in sustainable livestock production and business management. Since joining the faculty of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Nikki has focused solely on the development of the Stockbridge Livestock Program. This unique program provides innovative, hands-on, science-based, sustainable animal husbandry programming to UMass. Her experiential learning programming includes hands on training in raising, poultry, pigs, sheep and training in on farm slaughter. Nicole serves on several faculty committees and is an active member of the local farming community.
Along with educating and advising the next generation of small farmers she continues to run a small family farm at her home in Wendell, MA.
Nikki can be reached at @email
Name: Jason Dragon. M.Ed
Position: Farm Superintendent
Jason Dragon joined the UMass farm teaching team in 2019. He holds a masters degree in Education with a certificate in Social Justice Education from UMass and is an integral player in the everyday functions of our farm programs. Jason has been in the farming and education world for close to fifteen years and brings expertise in sustainable agriculture, diversified vegetable production, systems thinking and food justice. Jason oversees and manages 25 acres of organic farm land used by the UMass Student Farm and is actively involved in training student interns in all things related to our vegetable farming operations.
Jason can be reached at @email.