Education

B.S. Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 1998
M.S. Entomology and Plant Pathology (Entomology Emphasis), Mississippi State University, 2005
M.S. Entomology and Plant Pathology (Plant Pathology Emphasis), Mississippi State University, 2011
Ph.D. Plant and Soil Sciences (Horticulture Emphasis), Mississippi State University, 2019

Research Interests

Developing a sustainable food system requires consideration of the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. My work focuses on the development and evaluation of specialty crop production practices in terms of their effect on plant productivity, economic factors of production, and equity. An additional area of interest is the integration of food plants into urban and rural landscapes. The diversification of our food system has the potential to assist with the preservation of our natural resources while also providing positive economic outcomes and honoring our various food cultures. Development of a strong regional food system requires understanding of motivations for adoption of various practices as well as consumer perception of plant production, management, and design practices. Integration of food production into our local landscapes in both urban and rural environments is a critical element of a sustainable regional food system.

Teaching

• PLAS 133 – Horticultural Plant Sciences Laboratory
• PLAS 319 – Edible Landscapes

Publications

Google Scholar publication list

• Fleming, D.E., J.A. Davis, F.R. Musser, S.V. Paula-Moraes, R.C. Stephenson, C.A. Wheeler, E. Ringpis, T.S. Crum, J.K. Tran. 2021. Trapping Soybean Looper (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Southeastern USA and Implications for Pheromone-Based Research and Management. Florida Entomologist, 104(3):186-194.
• Stephenson, R.C., C.E. Coker, G.R. Bachman, B.C. Posadas, R.L. Harkess, J.J. Adamczyk and P.R. Knight. 2019. Economic Effect of Pest Management Strategies on Small Scale Tomato Production in Mississippi. HortTechnology. 30 (1), 64-75.
• Stephenson, R. C., C.E. Coker, G.R. Bachman, B.C. Posadas, R.L. Harkess and J.J. Adamczyk. 2019 Effect of High Tunnels on Populations of Whiteflies, Aphids and Thrips on Tomatoes in Mississippi. Journal of Horticulture. 6(3):1-9.
• Coker, C. E., V. Cerven, and R.C. Stephenson. 2018. Productivity of Asian varieties of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.), and Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) in Coastal Mississippi. Journal of Applied Horticulture. 20(2):87-91.
• Aboughanem-Sabanadzovic N., I.E. Tzanetakis, A. Lawrence, R.C. Stephenson and S. Sabanadzovic, 2015. A new ilarvirus is associated with privet necrotic ringspot disease in southern USA. Phytopathology. 106(1):87-93.