Haleigh joined Sand County Foundation in 2023 as an agricultural geospatial data scientist. Sand County Foundation is a national nonprofit that works at the intersection of agriculture and the environment. In her role, Haleigh manages data for various projects, simplifying data collection for farmers and her team. She ensures data are relayed back to farmers through accessible and easy-to-understand reports. Haleigh is often consulted on water quality modeling and currently leads planning for Leadership for Midwestern Watershed events, an annual forum that brings together conservation leaders in agricultural water quality improvement to share strategies for success.
Haleigh earned her PhD in Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science from Iowa State University, where she also completed certificates in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Data-Driven Food, Energy, and Water Decision Making. Her dissertation focused on the economics and efficiencies of adopting conservation practices, as well as developing equitable food-energy-water systems. She also holds an MS in Agronomy from Penn State University, where she researched integrated weed management in dairy cropping systems. Haleigh grew up near Urbana, Illinois, and is currently based in Dubuque, Iowa.
Haleigh has been a proud member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society since 2020. Recently, she participated in the 2024 Emerging Leaders Program, where she gained valuable leadership skills and connected with others passionate about conservation. From 2020 to 2024, she served on the board of the Iowa Farmers Union, initially as a student representative and later as treasurer. Currently, Haleigh serves as a contractor for the Iowa Farmers Union, where she manages their financial accounts.