Nebraska Extension awarded S. Carolina “Caro” Córdova, assistant professor and statewide soil health specialist in agronomy and horticulture, an Excellence in Extension Award for Collaboration. She was recognized at the Nebraska Extension Fall Conference Nov. 22 at the Nebraska East Union.
This award exemplifies excellence in collaborative extension work. In two years, Córdova has secured over $1.4 million in grants, co-organized numerous Soil Health events, created an undergraduate Soil Health class, and published five peer-reviewed articles. She is impacting Nebraska through diverse partnerships, research and extension efforts.
“Her leadership and collaborative efforts have significantly advanced Soil Health initiatives in Nebraska and beyond,” nominator Amy Schmidt said. “As co-lead of the Soil Health team, Dr. Córdova orchestrates quarterly meetings for a diverse group of seven to 10 extension educators and 12 faculty members from Biological Systems Engineering, Animal Science, Agronomy and Horticulture and School of Natural Resources, fostering a collaborative environment for addressing complex soil health issues.”
Schmidt, a professor of biological systems engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, said Córdova's grant-writing success demonstrates her ability to build partnerships and secure funding for collaborative projects. Schmidt added that Córdova’s collaborative approach extends to creating innovative tools. She collaborated with Judy Turk, associate professor in natural resources, to develop a soil color chart for estimating organic carbon in Nebraska soils, demonstrating the ability to translate research into practical resources for farmers.
Córdova’s influence extends beyond Nebraska. Her work on soil organic carbon protocols is widely used across the national USDA-ARS Long-Term Agroecosystems Research network, and she was recognized with the Early Career Award from the ARS-LTAR Network in 2023.
Upon receiving the Excellence in Extension Award for Collaboration, Córdova expressed her gratitude.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award for collaboration,” she said. “This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our dedicated team and partners across Nebraska. Our work in soil health is crucial for sustainable agriculture, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this field. I look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to advance soil health initiatives and support Nebraska’s ag community.”
Córdova joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2022. Her position is 60% extension and 40% teaching in both the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and the School of Natural Resources. Her research and teaching programs strive to integrate agroecological principles, a deep understanding of biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology, and modeling to understand soil-plant-microbe interactions in important agricultural settings. She has taught two courses, given nine guest lectures, and mentored 20 undergraduate and graduate students since starting at Nebraska. Her innovative teaching methods have connected at least seven students with potential employers through field and tech visits, further demonstrating her commitment to both academic excellence and practical application in the field of soil health.
