Colby is an associate professor of soil science in the Kansas State University (KSU) Department of Agronomy. He teaches Soils, Soils Laboratory, and Soil and Water Conservation. He is also a coach for the KSU Soil Judging Team and serves as the faculty advisor for the KSU student chapter of the SWCS. His research focuses on wetland soils with current project topics including field indicators of hydric soils in interdunal wetlands, expression of redox features in dark soils, and carbon dynamics of bison wallows.
Colby earned a BS in Environmental Science from Iowa State University and a MS and PhD in Soil Science from North Carolina State University. He is a certified professional soil scientist (CPSS) and a professional wetland scientist (PWS). Colby serves on the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils and is a cooperator with the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS). Colby grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa where duck hunting adventures sparked his interest in wetlands and soil science. He lives in Manhattan, Kansas, with his wife and son. When he is not in the classroom or the field, you can find Colby on a bike ride with his family.