Sarah Meiss, PhD

Dr. Sarah L. Meiss earned her B.S. in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry from Bloomsburg University in 1998. She then traveled to Athens, Ohio, to earn her Ph.D. in Plant microbe interactions at Ohio University within their Interdisciplinary Cellular and Molecular Biology program studying Sustainable Agriculture and Plant Microbial interactions in agricultural crops. At OU, she worked tirelessly on Food Security issues including supporting the development of Local Food Systems.  Since beginning her tenure at PennWest California in 2007, Dr. Meiss has taught courses on Mycology, Botany, Plant physiology, Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Sustainable Agriculture and has developed a course on Sustainability for the new concentration.  She currently manages the Universities’ organic garden, orchard, and apiary, and serves on several committees including the Southwestern PA Environmental Literacy committee, The Southwestern PA Agribusiness Council, and the Pennsylvania Mushroom and Protista Technical Committee.   Dr. Meiss's work bridges the gap between academic research and real-world applications, promoting sustainable practices in agriculture and education.  With her expertise in Sustainability, Dr. Meiss serves on the PASSHE Chancellor’s Task Force on Sustainability and the PA Governor’s Council on Agricultural Education Excellence.  Her research examines how plants and microorganisms, including mushrooms and bacteria, communicate and influence each other in Wetland ecosystems, in influencing Medicinal plants, and in Invasive plant species establishment.  She also examines mushrooms for their medicinal value and their relationship with other organisms including White Nose syndrome in bats and chytrid infection on frogs.  Dr. Meiss is a Master Gardener with Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA and as an educator and volunteer she teaches community workshops and classes on organic gardening.

Education