Life's Mission:
To help realign social and political systems to this one Earth.
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Jacob A. Miller-Klugesherz (CV)
Sociology PhD Candidate (Exp. May 2026)
I am the Joe Hale Chair in Regenerative Agriculture and Education Transformation Project Lead at Kansas Wesleyan University. My life’s mission is to help realign social and political systems to this one Earth. I currently study the socio-political barriers to regenerative organic agriculture, and its impacts on farmer identity formation, overall wellbeing, and local food adoption. I enjoy teaching symbolic interactionism, Luhmannian functional (sub)systems, and agricultural sociology. Previous research included moral foundations of U.S. farm policy, material semiotics, ecospheric rhetoric, climate change mitigation, Ogallala aquifer depletion, and public speaking. A sixth-generation Kansan, I have deep family roots; I am Wes Jackson’s eldest grandson and a first cousin, three times removed from Dwight D. Eisenhower. My non-academic interests include cooking, gardening, disc golf, and basketball.
EDUCATION
August 2020-May 2026
Doctoral Candidate
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
​Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work​
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GRA, RegenPGC: Socioeconomic impacts and policy objective (May 2023-May 2026). USDA NIFA.
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GRA, Rural Grocery Initiative (September 2022-June 2025). K-State Research and Extension.
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GTA, SOCIO211: Introduction to Sociology, SOCIO440: Social Organization, SOCIO450: Social Interaction (September 2022-May 2023)
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GRA, Rural Resource Resiliency (R3) Research Traineeship (2020-2022). NSF.
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Dissertation: Heal soil, heal soul: Enhancing regenerative agriculture, cover cropping, and farmer and community wellbeing in four Kansas counties
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Committee: Matthew R. Sanderson (chair, advisor), Gerard Middendorf, László Kulcsár, and Travis Linnemann. In memoriam, Cornelia Flora, 2025.
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 (6)
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (November 10, 2022). Stan Cox: The Green New Deal and Beyond: Ending the Climate Emergency While We Still Can. In Geoff Desa & Jia Xiangpinp’s (eds) Social Innovation and Sustainability Transition (pp. 387-388). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. https://doi-org.er.lib.k-state.edu/10.1007/978-3-031-18560-1_29 (Originally appeared in Agriculture & Human Values 2020).​
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Griggs, B., Sanderson, M.R., & Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (May 2023). “Farmers are depleting the Ogallala Aquifer because the government pays them to do it.” In Andrea K. Gerlak’s (ed.) The Conversations on Water (pp. 53-58). 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.
CASE STUDIES (5)
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Miller-Klugesherz, J. A., & Blair, E. (June 2025a). Case Study: Farm to Freezer. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Research & Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J. A., & Blair, E. (June 2025b). Case Study: Farmacy Marketplace. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Research & Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (2023). Case Study: Manson, IA. R. Carver, E. Blair, and H. Jenkins (eds.). Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (June 30, 2023). Case Study: Marquette, KS. Community shareholder investment in Piper’s Fine Foods helps ensure the grocery store’s long-term viability. R. Carver, E. Blair, and H. Jenkins (eds.). Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (May 31, 2023). Case Study: Evansville, MN. Creating an ‘unmanned,’ 24/7 access grocery store: Responding to the needs of Evansville community members. R. Carver, E. Blair, and H. Jenkins (eds.). Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
PODCAST APPEARANCES (3)​
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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.
SCHOLARLY ARTICLES(6)
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A., Jessica Ramirez, R. Carver, L. Tsoodle, E. Blair, and L. Scheufler. (February 2024). The 2021 Kansas Rural Grocery Survey: Reevaluating Extension’s role in rural grocery issues. Journal of Extension 62(1).
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. & M.R. Sanderson. (October 2023). Good for the soil, but good for the farmer? Addiction and recovery in transitions to regenerative agriculture. Journal of Rural Studies 103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103123
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (March 2022). Demoralizing: Integrating J.D. Peters’ communication ‘chasm’ with Niklas Luhmann’s (1989) Ecological Communication to analyze climate change mitigation inaction. Kybernetes 51(5):1775-1799 (Moral Communication observed with Social Systems Theory.) S. Roth (ed.) https://doi:10.1108/K-11-2020-0770
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Griggs, B., Sanderson, M.R., & Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (February 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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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. (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.
FACT SHEETS (4)​
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A., R. Carver, and E. Blair. (November 29, 2023). Local Sourcing Best Practices and Lessons Learned: A Fact Sheet for Producers. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Research & Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A., R. Carver, and E. Blair. (November 29, 2023). Local Sourcing Best Practices and Lessons Learned: A Fact Sheet for Grocers. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Research & Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (February 2023). Preliminary observations on data from the community survey: The Ogden community’s reflections on a potential grocery store. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Research & Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J. A. (November 2023). Navigating the Kansas Cooperative Societies Act [Fact Sheet]. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Research & Extension’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
SPEECH TRANSCRIPTS (3)
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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.
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.
BOOK REVIEWS (2)
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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 (10)
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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.
SCHOLARLY ESSAYS (3)​
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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.
OP-EDS AND EDITORIALS (7)
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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.
BOOK
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (Accepted, Exp. Winter 2026). Ball is life: Perspectives, theories, and stories encompassing basketball, the beautiful game. New York City, NY: Poets Choice & Free Spirit LLC.
EXPERIENCE
January 2026 -
Joe Hale Chair in Regenerative Agriculture (tenure track)
Kansas Wesleyan University
§ Manage the Heartland Rodale Institute Farm Training Program (H-RIFT).
§ Teach 8 credit hours each semester, manage the Educational farm.
§ Execute administrative tasks CRH Educational activities.​
June 2025 - May 2027
Education Transformation Project Coordinator
Kansas Wesleyan University
Office of the President
§ Oversee the management of the Education Transformation project funded through an anonymous grant. Work done in collaboration with the KWU president and CRH director.
§ Develop and oversee budget development for the components ($200,000).
§ Develop list of presenters and attendees for the Education Transformation conference, June 1-4, 2026.
MAY 2023 - December 2025
Graduate Research Assistant
§ Performed field work interviewing Kansas farmers and community leaders to discern the social, economic, and political barriers to their adoptions of cover crops.
§ Developed the 3C dataverse: Community capitals, cover crops, & conservation agriculture in the U.S. corn-soybean belt, version 2.2
SEPTEMBER 2022- JUNE 2025
Graduate Research Assistant
Extension Services
Kansas State University
§ Local sourcing innovations in rural food systems, rural cooperative development, 2021 Kansas rural grocery survey, case studies of innovative rural grocers and groceries.
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SEPTEMBER 2022-MAY 2023
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Sociology
Kansas State University
§ Instructed SOCIO440 - Social Organization
§ Instructed 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
§ Scheduled and participated in lobby meetings with Kansas Senators and Representatives.
§ Trained participants how to lobby with others and on their own.
§ Led and engaged in grasstops, grassroots, media, and advocacy actions.
§ Held local action meetings and give presentations to local organizations and institutions.