I’m Christopher J. Dourte, originally from Los Angeles, California. I am a retired U.S. Army servicemember and Iraq War veteran. A strong commitment to food security and sustainable agriculture shaped my path into plant health. I earned my B.S. in Horticulture with a minor in Entomology from Oregon State University, where I focused on plant–insect interactions and the role of community-based gardening in addressing systemic barriers to food access.

Through my research, I conducted a needs assessment and evaluation of the Seed to Supper program under Dr. Leslie Madsen, which helped highlight opportunities to make gardening-based food security initiatives more inclusive and effective for marginalized communities. These experiences, along with my hands-on knowledge in horticulture and pest management, led me to pursue an interdisciplinary approach to plant health—one that values diagnostics, sustainability, and community engagement.

Now, as a Doctor of Plant Health (DPH) student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, I’m expanding my expertise in integrated pest management, plant pathology, soil health, and sustainable production systems. My goal is to apply practical, science-based solutions that improve agricultural resilience and support underserved communities by bridging the gap between academic research and real-world impact.