Dr. Loutrina Staley-Cordell is a Plant and Soil Scientist, educator, and agricultural program leader with over a decade of experience in conservation, food safety, and community-based education. She currently runs HaveiHope Inc., a 501(C) 3 nonprofit literacy and enrichment program with her husband that integrates farm life, equine care, and STEM learning to support youth from underserved communities in Huntsville, Alabama.
Dr. Staley-Cordell previously served as the National Equity and Outreach Program Analyst for the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), where she led nationwide efforts to support conservation districts, engage historically underserved land stewards, and expand access to USDA programs. Prior to NACD, she was the Soil Scientist and Director of Student Recruitment at the Soil Health Institute (SHI), where she managed stakeholder engagement, student programming, and producer education efforts across diverse agricultural landscapes.
Her background includes conducting research in food microbiology at Alabama A&M University, serving as a Licensed Commodity Grader with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, and teaching advanced life science in Decatur City Schools, where she implemented a real-world STEM curriculum focused on agriculture and food systems.
Dr. Staley-Cordell holds a B.S. in Horticultural Science from Andrews University, an M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from Tuskegee University, and a Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Science from Alabama A&M University, where her research focused on the antimicrobial properties of plant botanicals in food safety. She brings to SWCS a deep commitment to bridging science, stewardship, and community engagement to advance practical, inclusive, and sustainable conservation solutions.