AgBioResearch Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University (MSU) has appointed Dr. Jeremy Hartsock, a faculty member in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, as faculty coordinator for MSU AgBioResearch’s Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center (CMERC). In this role, Hartsock will focus on expanding undergraduate research opportunities, integrating CMERC into teaching and learning across campus, and coordinating a collaborative, multidisciplinary research program at the site.

The appointment marks a new chapter for CMERC, which was founded and developed under the leadership of Associate Professor, Dr. Jen Owen. Owen has served as the center’s coordinator since its inception, leading strategic planning and program development that transformed the former muck soils research farm into a “living laboratory” for undergraduate education, field-based research, and community engagement.

“Helping to launch Corey Marsh and watch it grow into a place where students learn, discover, and connect with the natural world has been one of the most meaningful parts of my time at MSU,” Owen said. “I’m thrilled to see Jeremy step into this role. His commitment to undergraduate research and teaching, and his enthusiasm for collaboration, will help carry the center’s vision forward.”

Under Owen’s leadership, CMERC has grown into a hub that brings together undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, community partners, and donors around shared goals in ecology, conservation, and environmental stewardship. The center now supports field courses, independent research projects, long-term ecological monitoring, and community-focused programs that connect people to wetlands, grasslands, and wildlife in mid-Michigan.

As faculty coordinator, Hartsock will work closely with colleagues across campus to sustain and build on that foundation.

“In this position, Jeremy will help ensure that Corey Marsh continues to be a place where teaching, research, and community engagement are deeply intertwined,” Owen said. “He’ll play a key role in coordinating a forward-thinking research program that is strategic, multidisciplinary, and shaped by many voices.”

Hartsock’s portfolio as faculty coordinator will include supporting undergraduate research and field-based learning, strengthening connections between CMERC and MSU classrooms, and facilitating a faculty-led research program that invites collaboration across disciplines and departments. He will serve as a point of contact for faculty and students interested in using CMERC for projects, courses, and experiential learning.

“I’m excited to work with students, faculty, and community partners to build on the strong foundation at Corey Marsh,” Hartsock said. “There is tremendous potential here for hands-on learning and research that brings together many perspectives—from wildlife and wetlands to people and communities. I’m looking forward to helping make CMERC an even more active part of undergraduate education and research at MSU.”

Leaders in the college emphasized both continuity and future growth at the center.

“Corey Marsh is a key resource for undergraduate teaching and research at MSU,” said Dr. Dana Infante, Department Chair of Fisheries and Wildlife. “We’re grateful for Dr. Owen’s vision and leadership in establishing the center and delighted that Dr. Hartsock will help guide its next chapter. His appointment reflects our commitment to supporting CMERC as a place where students learn by doing and where collaborative research can flourish.”

As Owen transitions to a new role as Executive Director & CEO of Archbold Biological Station in Florida , she expressed confidence that CMERC will continue to grow and evolve while staying true to the original vision.

“From the beginning, Corey Marsh has been about more than any one person,” Owen said. “It has always been a collective effort—students, staff, faculty, partners, and donors working together to turn a former farm into a vibrant ecological research and teaching site. I’m grateful to everyone who has been part of that journey and excited to see where Jeremy and the CMERC community take it next.”

CMERC will continue to serve as a cross-cutting center that integrates undergraduate teaching and learning, long-term and short-term ecological research, and community and partner engagement. With Hartsock as faculty coordinator, the center is positioned to strengthen its role as a campus-wide resource and a catalyst for innovative, student-centered science.