Life's Mission:
To help realign social and political systems to this one Earth.
Jacob A. Miller-Klugesherz
PhD Student, Sociology (Expected graduation in Spring 2025)
NSF-Sponsored NRT-R3 Research Trainee
Concentrations: (1) Community, Agriculture, Food, and Environment; (2) Rural Politics & Development
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas, USA
Sociology | Environmental Communication | Speech & Debate
Regenerative Agriculture & Community Wellbeing | Absentee Ownership of farmland & wells | Rural Kansas | Ecospheric Rhetoric
Process-relational philosophy | Luhmannian Social Systems Theory | Values-Beliefs-Norms Framework, Moral Foundations Theory
Basketball | Cooking | Poetry
6th generation Kansan, born and raised. 1st cousins, 3 times removed to 34th U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower
EDUCATION
August 2020-Present
Doctoral Student
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
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GTA, SOCIO211: Introduction to Sociology and SOCIO440: Social Organization
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National Science Foundation-funded Rural Resource Resiliency (R3) Research Traineeship (2020-2022)
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Committee: Matthew Sanderson (chair, advisor), Gerard Middendorf, László Kulcsár, Cornelia Flora
May 2019
Master of Arts Degree
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
Department of Communication Studies
(Environmental Communication emphasis)
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Top Master’s Rhetorical Thesis Award, National Communication Association Master’s Education Section
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Special recognition (top 1% of students), College of Arts & Sciences
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Three Minute Thesis Finalist, Graduate School
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2x Schenck-Hamlin Graduate Research Award, Department of Communication Studies
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Graduate research assistant, Rural Grocery Initiative
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Graduate teaching assistant, Speaking in pubic contexts
May 2017
Bachelor of Arts Degree
Bethel College
North Newton, KS
Communication Arts, Literary Studies (Dual-Major)
Management (Minor)
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All-American, American Forensic Association-National Individual Events Tournament. First-ever Bethel recipient.
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National Champion, C. Henry Smith Bi-National Oratorical Contest.
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Academic All-District 3 Team member, CoSIDA. First-ever Bethel College basketball player recipient.
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3x Academic All-American, NAIA Academic Men’s Basketball .
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Thresher (2017) and Winning Attitudes (2015), Bethel Awards
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
BOOK CHAPTERS
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Griggs, B., Sanderson, M.R., & Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (Forthcoming May 2023). “Farmers are depleting the Ogallala Aquifer because the government pays them to do it.” In Martin LaMonica’s (S. Ed.) The Conversations on Water. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. (Previous versions appeared in the American Bar Association and The Conversation)
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (December 2022). “Moral sentiments of U.S. Congress’ Farm Bill debates, 2012-2021.” In R.X. Browning’s (ed.). Political Rhetoric and the Media: Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement’s The Year in C-SPAN Archives Research, Volume 8: 207-238. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv33t5gjm.1
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (August 2022). Rural race preservation: The enduring appeal to blood and soil. In N. Crick’s (Ed.), The rhetoric of fascism (pp. 76-93). Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press.
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Miller, J.A. & Sanderson, M.R. (January 2021). What we need to do to be able to actually celebrate the 100th Earth Day: Using COVID-19 to ‘root down’. In S. von Tscharner Fleming & B. Olson’s (eds.) Greenhorn’s New Farmer’s Almanac 5: “Grand Land Plan” (pp. 135-138). Saline, MI: Greenhorns.
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Miller, J.A. (2020). Attuning to an Ecospheric rhetoric to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. In C. Schmitt, T. Castor, & C. Thomas (Eds.), A Mighty Stream: A confluence of water, rhetoric, and social justice (pp. 369-389). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
PODCAST APPEARANCES
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Mcintyre, T., & Tinger, M. (Hosts). (April 14, 2020). Climate change, by any other name, will feel the same [Audio podcast]. In Climate Minute. Mass Climate Action Network.
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Mcintyre, T., & Tinger, M. (Hosts). (April 8, 2020). Carbon fees and moral pillars. [Audio podcast]. In Climate Minute. Mass Climate Action Network.
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Palmer, D. (Producer). (April 1, 2020). Episode One with Special Guest Jacob Miller [Audio podcast]. In Climate Talk: A Conservative Perspective on Climate Change.
OP-EDS AND EDITORIALS
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (July 11, 2022). How do I reduce my hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance? By becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. Co2mmit.
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Palken, D. & Miller, J.A. (May 4, 2020). An incubation period of decades: Contemplating climate change in the age of coronavirus. IEEE-USA Insight.
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Palken, D. & Miller, J.A. (April 27, 2020). Contemplating climate change in the age of coronavirus. Longmont Times-Call.
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Miller, J.A. (April 10-11, 2020). Coronavirus compels us to price carbon. The Kansan, Topeka Capital Journal, Salina Journal, The Garden City Telegram, Dodge City Globe, Leavenworth Times, & Butler County Times.
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Miller, J.A. (March 16, 2020). Sensible goals. Kansas City Star.
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Miller, J.A. (May 7, 2018). Rock Creek Forensics, led by Coach Keith Miller, wins 4A State. Manhattan Mercury.
SCHOLARLY ARTICLES
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Fischer, A.*, J.A. Miller*, E. Nottingham*, T. Wiederstein*, L. Krueger*, G.P. Quesada*, M.R. Sanderson, S.L. Hutchinson. (2021). A Systematic Review of Spatial-temporal Scale Issues in Sociohydrology. Frontiers in Water. *Share first-authorship. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.730169
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Miller, J.A. (June 2021). Demoralizing: Integrating J.D. Peters’ communication ‘chasm’ with Niklas Luhmann’s (1989) Ecological Communication to analyze climate change mitigation inaction. Kybernetes special issue: Moral Communication observed with Social Systems Theory. S. Roth (ed.) doi:10.1108/K-11-2020-0770
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Miller, J.A. (Spring 2019). Examining the narrative persuasiveness of the 50-Year Farm Bill. Northwest Journal of Communication 41(1):97-129. Northwest Communication Association, Andrea A. McCracken (ed.). ISSN 1559-0003. Print only.
REPORTS
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A., R. Carver, and E. Blair. (Forthcoming 2023). Local grocers sourcing from local producers in Kansas: Best practices. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (Forthcoming 2023). Preliminary observations on data from the community survey: The Ogden community’s reflections on a potential grocery store. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A., R. Carver, E. Blair, Jessica Ramirez, L. Tsoodle, and L. Scheufler. (Forthcoming 2023). The 2021 Kansas Rural Grocery Survey. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
SPEECH TRANSCRIPTS
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Miller, J.A. (2019). Mennonite’s protest of the U.S. national anthem lacks inclusivity of the black community: A call to “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” In Brad Born (ed.) Mennonite Life, 73. Newton, KS: Bethel College.
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Miller, J.A. (2017). When it comes to restraint and seclusion on autistic students, schools should use restraint themselves. Interstate Oratorical Association, Winning Orations. Lafayette, LA: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
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Miller, J.A. (2015). Migrant child workers deserve better protection. Interstate Oratorical Association, Winning Orations. Mount Berry, GA: Berry College.
ONGOING & UNDER REVIEW
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (~2026). Ball is life: The Earthly rhythms of basketball, the beautiful game.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A., M.R. Sanderson. (Equal contribution) (Under review, 2023). Good for the soil, but good for the farmer? Addiction and recovery in transitions to regenerative agriculture. Sociologia Ruralis.
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Jessica Ramirez, J.A. Miller-Klugesherz, R. Carver, L. Tsoodle, E. Blair, and L. Scheufler. (Under review, 2023). The 2021 Kansas Rural Grocery Survey: Revaluating Extension’s role in rural grocery issues. Journal of Extension.
BOOK REVIEWS
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (June 2022). Liz Carlisle: Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2022.2091720
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Miller, J.A. (2020). Stan Cox: The Green New Deal and beyond: Ending the climate emergency while we still can. Agriculture and Human Values, 37(2). Springer Nature.
POETRY
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Miller, J.A. (Fall 2021). If this year be our last. In Shawn Sanders (Eds.), From Pandemic to Protest, 11. Portland, OR: The Poeming Pigeon, LLC.
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Miller, J.A. (2020). Left, right, left, right. In Shawn Sanders (Ed.), The Pop Culture Issue, 10. Portland, OR: The Poeming Pigeon, LLC.
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Miller, J.A. (2020). Without Her, no prospect. In Ruchi Acharya (Ed.), Wingless Dreamer, Summer 2020 Chapbook. Online: Wingless Dreamer, LLC.
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Miller, J.A. (2019). Kansas Sunset & Stumped. In Zach Zimmerman (Ed.), Kansas’s Best Emerging Poets. Madison, WI: Z Publishing House, LLC.
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Miller, J.A. (2019). Ball is life. In Shawn Sanders (Ed.), The Sports Issue, 8. Portland, OR: The Poeming Pigeon, LLC.
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Miller, J.A. (2018). My story of home. In Zach Zimmerman (Ed.), America’s Best Emerging Poets, 82. Madison, WI: Z Publishing House, LLC.
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Miller, J.A. (2018). Home, Get a whiff of this, & Land assault. In Zach Zimmerman (Ed.), Kansas’s Best Emerging Poets, 33, 54, 83. Madison, WI: Z Publishing House, LLC.
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Miller, J.A. (Spring 2017). Land attack. YAWP! Literary Magazine.
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Miller, J.A. (Fall 2016). White guy. YAWP! Literary Magazine.
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Miller, J.A. (Fall 2016). Mohammed Ali. YAWP! Literary Magazine.
SHORT STORY AND PLAY
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Miller, J.A. (Spring 2016). Rachel’s kiss. YAWP! Literary Magazine.
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Miller, J.A. (2016). BUPpy love. In Brian Weilert (Eds.) Issue 15. Fort Scott, KS: Tibetan Treefrog Publishing.
ESSAYS
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Griggs, B., Sanderson, M.R., & Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (February 27, 2022). “Farmers are depleting the Ogallala Aquifer because the government pays them to do it.” Trends, The Water Report 53(4). Chicago, IL: American Bar Association.
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Miller, J.A. (Spring 2021). Hay bale yoga: Using Mennonite-inspired green exercise to slow down. In Brad Born’s (ed.) Mennonite Life, 75. Special Issue, "Scribing Slowness: An Ode to Slow Living During Fast Times." North Newton, KS.
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Sanderson, M.R., Griggs, B., & Miller, J.A. (November 9, 2020). Farmers are depleting the Ogallala Aquifer because the government pays them to do it. The Conversation.
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Miller, J.A. (Fall 2017). Davids versus Goliath. In Scott Bontz (Eds.) Land Report, 119, 7-11. Salina, KS: The Land Institute.
EXPERIENCE (HIGHLIGHTS)
SEPTEMBER 2022- MAY 2023
Research Assistant
Extension Services
Kansas State University
§ Write, edit, and compile drafts for publication in a scholarly journal (1) and reports (3), including the 2021 Kansas rural grocery survey.
§ Work on case studies (4) of innovative rural grocers and groceries.
§ Clean and analyze Ogden community survey data on potentially adding another grocery store.
SEPTEMBER 2022-Present
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
Kansas State University
§ Teach SOCIO440 - Social Organization
§ Teach SOCIO211 - Introduction to Sociology, online, asynchronous, 8-week course.
§ Student advisory board member.
§ Worked in interdisciplinary teams, went on field and site visits.
§ Conducted and published research on social and political barriers to climate change mitigation, regenerative agriculture adoption, and Ogallala irrigation reductions.
May 2020-December 2022
Lobbying liaison to KS-01
Co-Founder/Co-Leader of the Manhattan, KS chapter
Citizens' Climate Lobby
§ Schedule and participate in lobby meetings with Kansas Senators and Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01).
§ Train participants how to lobby with others and on their own.
§ Lead and engage in grasstops, grassroots, media, and advocacy actions.
§ Hold local action meetings and give presentations to local organizations and institutions.
JANUARY-JUNE 2020
Conservative Outreach Fellow
Citizens' Climate Education
§ Create a network of conservatives (with a focus on young adults) who are interested in climate policy.
§ Engage young conservatives and Republicans to take targeted actions to voice a constructive message for putting a price on carbon emissions.
§ Meet with members of Congress on climate policy, host meetings to discuss climate policy.
§ Create social media traffic supporting carbon pricing and publish opinion pieces in local and regional papers.
§ Coordinate meetings with conservative constituents and members of Congress through CCL’s Liaisons for meetings either in-district or in DC.
§ Develop, propose, test & implement outreach methods to young adult conservatives & Republicans.
§ Provide administrative support including email, calls, research and data entry.
JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2020
USDA-Funded Research Assistant
Department of Sociology
Kansas State University
§ Access datasets, compile data (examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6), create charts and graphics, and run statistical analyses on various variables for the state of Kansas and its counties. These include sustainable agriculture, farm scale, Ogallala aquifer depletion, public health, income, housing, and rural revitalization. Read a summary here.
FALL 2019
Intern
U.S. SENATOR JERRY MORAN (KS)
§ Managed mail and answer phone calls from constituents, compiled news clips and call logs, managed the front office, delivered co-sponsorships and proxies, organized meeting schedules, completed flag requests, gave Capitol tours, wrote legislative updates, and filled in as staff assistant from time to time.
§ Wrote memos related to the agriculture, energy, environment, and education portfolio.
SUMMERS 2016, 2017
Intern for Ecosphere Studies,
Special Assistant to President Emeritus
THE LAND INSTITUTE
§ Updated data for the 50-Year Farm Bill, including pie charts, statistics, and text.
§ Conducted research for federal grants, environmental pedagogy, and assessment.
§ Coordinated housing, transportation, and food logistics for the Ecosphere Studies program.
§ Helped design and coordinate the second and third annual ecosphere studies conferences, organized participants’ writings into a packet, assisted in educational exercises, and aided in meetings and tours.