Dr. Stephen Ventura is the Gaylord Nelson Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also Director of the Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Director of the Land Tenure Center in the Nelson Institute, and interim Director of the Institute for Urban Agriculture and Nutrition. His expertise is in land and geographic information systems (GIS) as applied to a wide range of issues including land management and resource protection, water quality, critical habitat, agricultural conservation, precision agriculture, and land records modernization. Current research includes community and regional food systems, risk and mitigation of toxicants in the environment, farm woodlot management, and cumulative water quality impacts of hard rock mining.
Stephen came on the Board in 2011, served as the Chair of the Board during his time and stepped off the Board in 2021.