Tom McKenna


Tom McKenna
  • Assistant Research Professor

Contact Info

35 Takeru Higuchi Hall, West Campus

Biography —

Tom's widely varied experience in biology includes work in native ecosystem restoration for the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaii; as a black bear technician for Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Three Rivers, California; and in prairie restoration and reconstruction for Applied Ecological Services, Baldwin City, Kansas. Tom works in collaboration with the Land Institute conducting research on the perennial grain Kernza® through the Perennial Agriculture Project.

Education —

B.S. in Biology, University of Kansas, 2002
Ph.D. in Biology, University of North Dakota, 2016

Research —

Research interests:

  • Diversity-productivity relationship in grassland systems
  • Agroecology
  • Plant-soil interaction