Lee S. Altier
Professor

Office: Plumas 221  Campus Zip: 310  Phone: (530) 898-4137  FAX: (530) 898-5845  E-mail Address  laltier@csuchico.edu

Personal Information

Seattle is where I grew up, but I've been a long time away. I received undergraduate degrees in anthropology at the University of Washington and horticulture at Washington State University. I farmed and did agricultural extension work in Washington State, New Mexico, and Nepal. I then received my MS and Ph.D. in horticulture from Cornell University studying the design of ecologically-sound cropping systems.

For three and a half years, besides growing collard greens and exploring swamps in south Georgia, I helped coordinate a multidisciplinary team of scientists at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Tifton, Georgia in the development of REMM, a computer model to simulate riparian ecosystems.

In July 1995, I drove a truck with my family and worldly possessions to a new home in northern California. Besides growing kiwis and exploring the Sierras, I have been enjoying teaching and doing research in agroecology at California State University, Chico. My primary areas of interest are water quality control, agroecosystem modeling, and vegetable cropping systems. I am an advocate of Holistic Management framework for planning and decision making.

Courses Taught

• AGRI 431- Holistic Resource Management 
• PSSC 309- Directed Work Experience in Plant Science
• PSSC 334- Wetland and Riparian Resources and Management
• PSSC 360- Ecology of Crop Production
• PSSC 390- Food Forever
  • Food Forever is now an exemplary WebCT course offered online!
    check out: Food Forever--PSSC 390
• PSSC 392- World Food and Fiber Systems

During the 2001-2002 academic year I was a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Thailand, teaching and doing research at Chiang Mai University. Through a Fulbright Alumni Initiatives grant, we have an ongoing collaborative effort with Thai students and faculty in An Online International Exchange Program in Agricultural Globalization.

Research and Professional Interests

• Riparian Ecosystem Management
  • Glenn County Buffer Management Study
  • REMM (Riparian Ecosystem Management Model)

• Crop Management

Service to the College, University, and Community

• Curriculum Development
  • USDA Challenge Grant:  A Cooperative Program with Industry for Integrated Student Research
    • Challenges and Successes in Integration
    • Experiences in Teaching Problem Solving
• Holistic Management Workshops
  • In cooperation with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and county RCD's, we conduct workshops for farmers and ranchers to enhance their profitability and achieve short and long-term goals.
• Chico Food Systems Project
• Northern California Regional Land Trust
• The Plant Science Club is an opportunity for students at CSU, Chico to get together with others with common interests. For more information...

Want to talk? Please get in touch! laltier@csuchico.edu