Dorothy Sirrine has been working at the nexus of agriculture, food security, and the environment since 1998. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Agroecology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Dorothy’s dissertation research took place in Southern Malawi, where she performed an interdisciplinary investigation of the sustainability of agroforestry species intercropped with maize. Her research was participatory, involving over 40 resource-poor farm families, and was funded through a Fulbright Grant. She continues to publish her findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Presently Dorothy has become involved in sustainable agriculture in Northern Michigan through multiple avenues. Most notably, she is assisting Leland Public School transition to a Farm-to-School Food Service Program. She also has a passion for yoga, and teaches at many local studios, including Yen Yoga & Fitness, and at Northwest Michigan College. Dorothy is married to Rob Sirrine, who is a Community Food Systems Educator with Michigan State University. They are proud parents to Wyatt and Whelan Sirrine, who sometimes live up to their outlaw names. The entire family is passionate about local foods, and spends ample time plotting to purchase local farmland to grow hops and apples.

dsirrine@utopiafound.org