Jessi Haeft

Associate Professor

(260) 359-4347
jhaeft@huntington.edu

Joined the Huntington University faculty in 2026.

Dr. Jessi Haeft joins Huntington after 12 years at Ball State University, where she taught courses in soil science, sustainable agriculture, precision agriculture and natural resource management. She brings extensive experience in teaching, research and hands-on agricultural education, with expertise in soil health, agroecology and precision agriculture.

Throughout her career, Haeft has emphasized experiential learning by creating opportunities for students to apply classroom knowledge through research projects, student farms, conservation initiatives and partnerships with agricultural professionals. Her work has focused on helping students develop practical skills while addressing real-world challenges in agriculture.

Haeft earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and a Master of Science degree in agriculture from California Polytechnic State University before completing a PhD in agriculture with a concentration in soil science at the University of Kentucky.

Originally from Templeton, California, Haeft lives in Warren, Indiana, and spends her free time as a bliblical scholar, avid gardener, soil extraordinaire, house plant enthusiast, and hobby farm collector of feathered and fur friends.

Education
  • Bachelor of Science degree in animal science, Pre-Vet Cal Poly, SLO
  • Master of Science degree in soil science, Cal Poly, SLO
  • PhD in soil and plant science, University of Kentucky
Licenses and Certifications
  • Indiana Professional Soil Scientist
  • Indiana Soil Classifier
Publications and Awards
  • McFarland D*, Berland A, Gruver J, Haeft J. 2023. The Effectiveness of Biochar in Agricultural Amelioration of Martian Soil Simulant. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA.
  • Elnajdi A*, Berland A, Haeft J, Dowling C. 2023. Influence of Soil pH, Organic Matter, and Clay Content on Environmentally Available Lead in Soils: A Case Study in Muncie, Indiana, USA. Open Journal of Soil Science 13: 414-430.
  • Elnajdi A*, Berland A, Haeft J, Dowling C. 2023. Relationships among environmental lead in playground soils and dust and blood lead of children in Muncie, Indiana, USA. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection 11: 21-31.
  • Elnajdi A*, Dowling C, Haeft J, Berland A. 2022. Assay of pH values, organic matter, clay content, and their correlation with environmental availability of lead (Pb) in the soils of Muncie, Indiana. Geological Society of America Connects Meeting. Denver, C
  • Elnajdi A*, Dowling C, Haeft J, Berland A. 2022. Evaluating the factors controlling the environmental availability of lead (Pb) in the soils of Muncie, Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN.
  • Wright, C. J. Ghezzi-Haeft. 2020. Hairy vetch and triticale cover crops for N Management in Soils. Open Journal of Soil Science. 10(6).
  • Hylton, L., J. Ghezzi and B. Han. 2018. Microplastics in fluvial environments within Indiana’s White River. Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science 127(1):72-81).
  • J. Ghezzi, C. Egler, and K. Green. 2017. 'Learning-Liths' for enhancing the study of soil morphology. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Journal – Volume 61 (4): December 2017. pp. 336-339
  • Green, K. and J. Ghezzi. 2017. Tile drainage and rye cover crops for N management. Proceedings for the Indiana Academy of Science. Poster Presentation.
  • Brown, H., J. Ghezzi. 2017. Hydrology of Wetlands. Encyclopedia of Water: Science, Technology, and Society. Oxford University Press (accepted for publication).
  • Ghezzi, J.L., A.D. Karathanasis, J. Unrine, C. Matocha, and Y.L. Thompson. 2014. Characterization of environmental nano- and macrocolloid particles extracted from selected soils and biosolids. Applied and Environmental Soil Science. 2014:1-13. doi: 10.1155
  • Ghezzi, J.L., A.D. Karathanasis, J. Unrine, C. Matocha, and Y.L. Thompson. 2014. Stability of soil and biosolid nanocolloid and macrocolloid particles in the absence and presence of arsenic, selenium, copper and lead. Open Journal of Soil Science. 4 (7): 2
  • Ghezzi, J.L., A.D. Karathanasis, J. Unrine, C. Matocha, and Y.L. Thompson. 2014. Competitive sorption behavior of arsenic, selenium, copper and lead by soil and biosolid nano- and macro-colloid particles. Open Journal of Soil Science (h5-index ranking: 9).
  • A.D. Karathanasis, Ghezzi, J.L., O. Wendroth, J. Unrine, C. Matocha, and Y.L. Thompson. 2014. Subsurface transport of As, Se, Cu, and Pb contaminants in association with soil and biosolid nano- and macro-colloid fractions. Austin Journal of Hydrology. 1(1)
Involvements
  • President, Indiana Registry of Soil Scientists (State Board of Soil Scientists), Governor appointed
  • Member, Indiana Professional Soil Classifiers Association
  • Soil Science Society of America, Crop Science Society of America and Agronomy Science Society of America, Member