Mary Sketch Bryant, Director​

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​Mary is the Director of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and is based in Salem, Virginia. She has experience working with collaboratives and coalitions across the country at the intersection of economic and environmental wellbeing with a focus on working lands and rural communities. Prior to working with the Virginia Soil Health Coalition, she worked at the Center for Rural Strategies where she helped coordinate the Rural Assembly, a coalition of rural stakeholders across the US. She received her Master’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech and her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Brown University. Through her graduate research she worked directly with agricultural producers and conservation practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of how farmers and ranchers approach conservation and land management decisions.

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Summer Thomas, Education & Outreach Specialist

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​Summer Thomas grew up on her family’s dairy and grain farm in Marydel, Delaware, where she began learning about the importance of soil health. Her passion for agriculture grew as she worked alongside her family on their operation. She continued her agricultural education at the University of Delaware, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources with minors in Agribusiness and Environmental Soil Science. During her studies, Summer gained valuable experiences, including serving as a promotional ambassador for Delaware and Maryland watermelon producers, which helped her discover her love for teaching and extension. She decided to pursue graduate school, where she had the opportunity to work under Dr. Rory Maguire on a rotational bale grazing project. After earning her PhD, Summer joined Dr. John Fike’s team as a program coordinator for two climate-smart agriculture grants. In this role, she worked closely with producers to implement practices that benefit both the environmental and economic aspects of their operations.