Life's Mission:
To help realign social and political systems to this one Earth.
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Jacob A. Miller-Klugesherz (CV)
PhD Candidate, Sociology (Expected graduation Spring 2025)
GRA, RegenPGC (USDA NIFA)
Concentrations: (1) Community, Agriculture, Food, & Environment; (2) Rural Politics & Development
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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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
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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 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-Present). USDA NIFA.
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GRA, Rural Grocery Initiative (September 2022-Present). K-State Research and Extension.
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GTA, SOCIO211: Introduction to Sociology, SOCIO440: Social Organization, SOCIO450: Social Interaction (September 2022-Present)
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GRA, Rural Resource Resiliency (R3) Research Traineeship (2020-2022). NSF.
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Committee: Cornelia Flora (chair, advisor), Matthew R. Sanderson, Gerard Middendorf, László Kulcsár
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 (3)
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (Forthcoming, 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.
ONGOING BOOK
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (~2026). Ball is life: The Earthly rhythms of basketball, the beautiful game.
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.
REPORTS (3)
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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 (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.
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Miller-Klugesherz, J.A. (~2026). Ball is life: The Earthly rhythms of basketball, the beautiful game.
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.
EXPERIENCE (HIGHLIGHTS)
MAY 2023 - PRESENT
Graduate Research Assistant
§ Perform field work interviewing Pottawatomie county, KS farmers and ag-satellite folk to discern the social, economic, and political barriers to their adoptions of perennial cover crops.
§ Developed the C3 RegenPGC dataverse.
§ Write and edit, collect, analyze, and visualize data using the Community Capitals Framework.
SEPTEMBER 2022- PRESENT
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, Anthropology, and Social Work
Kansas State University
§ Instructed SOCIO440 - Social Organization
§ Instructed SOCIO211 - Introduction to Sociology, online, asynchronous, 8-week course.
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§ 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.
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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 Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01).
§ 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.
JANUARY-JUNE 2020
Conservative Outreach Fellow
Citizens' Climate Education
§ Created a network of conservatives (with a focus on young adults) who are interested in climate policy.
§ Engaged young conservatives and Republicans to take targeted actions to voice a constructive message for putting a price on carbon emissions.
§ Met with members of Congress on climate policy, host meetings to discuss climate policy.
§ Created social media traffic supporting carbon pricing and publish opinion pieces in local and regional papers.
§ Coordinated meetings with conservative constituents and members of Congress through CCL’s Liaisons for meetings either in-district or in DC.
§ Developed, proposed, tested & implemented outreach methods to young adult conservatives & Republicans.
§ Provided administrative support including email, calls, research and data entry.
JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2020
USDA-Funded Research Assistant
Department of Sociology
Kansas State University
§ Data compilation (examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6), chart & graphic design, and statistical analyses on sustainable agriculture, farm scale, Ogallala aquifer depletion, public health, income, housing, and rural revitalization in Kansas. 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.