The University of Minnesota is committed to preparing its students to be fully engaged in our state, nation and world as outlined in the Elevate Extraordinary 2030 strategic roadmap.

Kristina Walker, soils and turf management professor in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the University of Minnesota Crookston, is growing greener pastures for women in the sciences. 

Field of dreams

Walker, initially a psychology major, left a job at a drug and rehab facility to work at a golf course. She immediately became intrigued by the work, asking her superintendent a wide range of questions about managing the turf. He encouraged her to return to school, and after studying agronomy and horticulture, she earned a master’s and a doctorate in agronomy, specializing in turfgrass management.

Turf management focuses on the production and maintenance of turfgrass for home lawns, commercial landscapes, sports fields and golf courses. 

In her courses, Walker teaches students to identify grasses and their seeds, and to understand cultural management practices such as mowing, fertilizing and irrigating. As they advance, students delve deeper into processes such as aerification, topdressing and pest management, applying their knowledge to topics of interest such as landscaping, sports fields and golf courses. 

“Minnesota is a unique place to live. There's a lot of recreation and a lot of golf. I feel like our program is contributing to the green industry, specifically in turfgrass management,” says Walker.

Growing greener grass

The field — in academia and industry — is quite male-dominated. Walker noticed that many female students major in turf but do not work in the field. Following similar trends found in other STEM fields, she has seen female students in the sciences change career paths due to societal pressures.

“I’m lucky to have had a lot of support from folks in the industry,” says Walker. “But I’m still shocked that some of my students and colleagues are still having issues today.”

To curb that trend, Walker is making efforts to recruit, advise and retain female students. She’s using her industry connections to gauge progress and bring her academic perspective to the conversation. 

Last fall, Walker was invited to participate in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s Women Leadership Academy, where she shared her experiences and connected with women interested in turf. 

She also uses those industry conversations to better inform her students about potential roadblocks and industry dynamics, both during their time at the University and once they enter the workforce.

“I want to give back to the industry that I love so much and help other women like myself, so it's not such a question mark that there's a pathway for them to do well, too,” says Walker.

Walker’s presence inspires and motivates students to achieve their dreams. 

Among her many roles and accolades, Walker was the first woman to be tenured and promoted to full professor in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at Crookston as well as the first woman to get a Ph.D. specializing in turfgrass management from Purdue University. 

Full speed ahead

In all aspects of her work, Walker is motivated by the words of a former Golf Course Superintendents Association of America president, “Have 60 seconds of confidence.”

By taking on campus and industry leadership roles, networking with female superintendents and nurturing her students' curiosity, Walker is examining the importance of being vocal to drive change. 

“I realize that if I don't speak out about my experiences, then that road isn't clear for others,” says Walker. 

In the classroom, Walker keeps students competitive through labs, excursions and even study abroad programs focused on soils and turf. She was recently awarded a grant from the Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation to support turf students with new and ongoing activities, initiatives and outreach for the coming year. 

“I always say to folks who reach out as potential employers for students, ‘Thanks for thinking of us,’ because we're doing good things and working hard up here.” 

Learn more about the Golf and Sports Turf Management program at the University of Minnesota Crookston.