Aysha Tapp Ross, PhD
National Climate and Soil Health Deputy Director and Scientist
Aysha Tapp Ross (she/her) is the National Climate and Soil Health Deputy Director and Scientist where she provides leadership and coordination for programs supporting AFT’s efforts to catalyze a new conventional agriculture: one that is soil health promoting, climate-neutral or better, diverse, resilient, equitable, and environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.
Aysha joined American Farmland Trust in September 2021, bringing more than a decade of leadership experience and a strong scientific background. In her role she leads multiple projects that collaborate closely with national and regional project leads to evaluate soil, economic, and social outcomes on working farms before and after the adoption of conservation agriculture practices. In addition, Aysha is also active in AFT’s efforts to advance biochar as a tool in soil health management systems.
Prior to joining AFT, Aysha worked for several years in a research laboratory before taking time to raise her family, build an off-grid home, and operate Moonlight Farms Homestead, a diversified farmstead and large apiary. She also serves on the board of her local farmers’ market, on the board of Apis Rescue (a local honeybee research non-profit), and is active in the Science Societies Women in Science Committee. Aysha earned her master’s degree in Sustainability and her PhD in Biology from the University of Louisville, where her research focused on the effects of conservation agriculture amendments on microbial communities, soil health, and plant productivity.
