He is responsible for education and outreach activities with the Center, as well as coordinating the Ecological Sciences & Engineering Graduate Program.

Prior to joining the Center in 2007, Brent conducted water quality projects and served as an Extension contact for water quality programming and education. His recent and past projects include chairing the Indiana Rivers Rally conference, co-developing and coordinating the Indiana Watershed Leadership Program, Theme Coordinator for the Great Lakes Regional Nutrients & Water Quality Team, Extension contact for drinking water and farm environmental assessments, as well as managing Purdue water quality web sites and the Extension Water Quality Common Interest Group.

Brent was raised on a small farm within the "prairie peninsula" of Benton and Warren counties of Indiana. Both his father's and mother's families farm in the Pine Creek watersheds. He completed a M.S. program in ethology and farm animal behavior at Purdue contributing research knowledge on swine, poultry, and dairy cattle.

He is a certificate holder in Permaculture Design with interests in renewable agriculture and natural systems.

Recent Professional Positions
Learning & Engagement Coordinator, Center for the Environment at Discovery Park, Purdue University (February 2007 - current)

Water Quality Specialist, Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University (2001-2007)

Environmental Assessment Coordinator, Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University (1999-2001)

Teaching and Outreach Experience
Center for the Environment, Purdue University 2007 - current

Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy, hybrid course, Purdue University, 2005 – 2007.

Stream ecology and assessment undergraduate labs, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Purdue University, 2000 – 2006.

Watersheds and water quality, Purdue University Extension, 1999 – 2007.

Working lands environmental assessments and outreach, Purdue University Extension, 1999 – 2004.

Selected Publications
Broussard, S.R., Ladd, B.T., Frankenberger, J.R.. Washington-Ottombre, C., and Haley, A. 2006. Indiana Watershed Groups: Exploring Activities, Characteristics, Barriers, Information Use, and Training Needs. Statewide survey report, 45 pgs. Purdue University.

Ladd, B.T. and J.R. Frankenberger. 2004. On-Farm Soil Monitoring for Water Resource
   Protection, WQ-43. 12 pgs, Purdue Extension.

Ladd, B.T. and J.R. Frankenberger. 2004. Field Assessment for Water Resource Protection, WQ-42. 24 pgs, Purdue Extension.

Ladd, B.T. and J.R. Frankenberger. 2003. Management of Ponds, Wetlands, and Other Water Reservoirs to Minimize Mosquitoes, WQ-41-W. 8 pgs, Purdue Extension.

Ladd, B.T. and J.R. Frankenberger. 2001. Livestock Confinement Assessment for Water Resource Protection. WQ-40. 12 pgs, Purdue Extension.

Synergistic Activities
1) Indiana Rivers Rally
   Co-chaired this inaugural event with Rivers Institute of Hanover College and led twenty five other organizations and agencies in planning the event. Rivers Rally brought together for the first time the larger water audience in Indiana including academicians, grassroots organizations, conservation professionals, citizen volunteers, and recreational enthusiasts. http://www.indianariversrally.org

2) Indiana Watershed Leadership Program
Managed and assisted in the development of a leadership program geared toward community watershed planners and managers.  Developed and delivered education materials both in workshops and over the web. http://www.purdue.edu/watersheds

3) Environmental and Socials Indicators Project. http://www.purdue.edu/indicators
Worked with faculty to gather data on public knowledge and attitudes about water quality and watershed management.  This data has been instrumental in developing social indicators of adoption of best management practices for watershed management.

4) Water quality Extension programming
Developed water quality information and educational web sites for non-academic audiences as part of the Purdue Extension Water Quality Program.(http://www.ces.purdue.edu/waterquality) and the Safe Water for the Future Program. (http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/SafeWater)

Collaborators and co-editors:
Broussard, S. (Purdue U.); Cooper, B. (Purdue U.); Crighton, L. (IN Dept. of Natural Resources); Dodge, M. (Hanover College); Frankenberger, J. (Purdue U.); James, R. (Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission); Kroeker, T. (V3 Companies, Inc.); Weis, C. (Indiana Paddlers Rendezvous)

Education

M.S. Animal Sciences, Purdue University (1993)
Focus: Ethology (Study of Animal and Human Behavior)

B.S. Animal Sciences, Purdue University (1990)
Focus: Animal Science and Agribusiness

Contact Information
E-mail
Phone: 765.494.1949
Fax: 765.496.1369

Mailing Address:
Center for the Environment
503 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47907