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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

ETS - Environmental and Technological Studies linking the natural and human-made world College of Science & Engineering
Mitch Bender

Mitch Bender
Associate Professor

Contact Information:
202 Headley Hall
320-308-3891
mrbender@stcloudstate.edu

 

 

Education

  • Ph.D., Auburn University, 2001, Soil Science.
  • B.S., Alabama A&M University, 1994, Environmental Science.

Professional Experience

  • 2007-present, Associate Professor - St. Cloud State University.
  • 2008-2009, Interim Department Chairperson - Department of Environmental and Technological Studies.
  • 2005-2008, Graduate Coordinator - Department of Environmental and Technological Studies.
  • 2002-2007, Assistant Professor - St. Cloud State University.

Area of Study

Environmental soil science, waste management, nutrient cycling, undergraduate research, service learning.
 

Honors and Awards

  • A.L. Smith Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement in Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University, 2000.
  • Graduate Student Oral Paper Competition, Second Place, Southern Branch of American Society of Agronomy, Memphis, TN, 1999.
  • Presidential Graduate Fellowship, Auburn University, 1998-2001.
  • Graduate Student Research Award, Auburn University, 1998.
  • Graduate Student Poster Paper Competition, Second Place, Southern Branch of American Society of Agronomy, Little Rock, AR, 1998.
  • Graduate Student Organization Research Forum Poster Competition, First Place, Auburn University, 1998.

Professional Society Membership

  • Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences, 2008 to present.
  • Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability, 2008 to present.
  • Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Scientists, 2003 to present.
  • American Society of Agronomy, 1995 to 2009.
  • Soil Science Society of America, 1995 to 2009.

Publications and Reports

Bender, M.R., and C.W. Wood. 2009. Total Phosphorus in Residual Materials. p. 81-86. In J.L. Kovar and G.M. Pierzynski (eds.) Methods of P Analysis for Soils, Sediments, Residuals, and Waters (2nd ed.). Southern Cooperative Series Bulletin No. 396. Virginia Tech Univ., Blacksburg, VA.

Bender, M.R. (ed.). 2009. Homeowner's Guide to Shoreland Regulations for the Sauk River Watershed. Sauk River Watershed District, Sauk Centre, MN.

Bender, M.R. and C.W. Wood. 2007. Above- and below-ground greenhouse gas emissions from swine effluent amended soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 38: 2479-2503.

Galzki, J.C. and M.R. Bender. 2007. Water monitoring report: Sauk River at St. Cloud, 2005-2006. Sauk River Watershed District, Sauk Centre, MN.

Sewell, S.M and M.R. Bender. 2006. Water monitoring report: Sauk River at St. Cloud, 2003-2004. Sauk River Watershed District, Sauk Centre, MN.

Bender, M.R. and C.W. Wood. 2003. Influence of red imported fire ants on greenhouse emissions from a Piedmont Plateau pasture. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 34:1873-1889.

Bender, M.R. and C.W. Wood. 2000. Total phosphorus in residual materials. pp. 45-49. In: G. Pierzynski (ed.), Methods for Phosphorus Analysis for Soils, Sediments, Residuals, and Waters. Southern Cooperative Series Bulletin No. 396. SERA-IEG 17 USDA-CSREES Regional Committee Bulletin.

Bender, M.R. and C.W. Wood. 2000. Total phosphorus in soil. pp. 77-82. In: G. Pierzynski (ed.), Methods for Phosphorus Analysis for Soils, Sediments, Residuals, and Waters. Southern Cooperative Series Bulletin No. 396. SERA-IEG 17 USDA-CSREES Regional Committee Bulletin.
 

Grants

St. Cloud Drinking Water Study Grant, Upper Mississippi River Source Water Protection Project, Principle Investigator, 2009.

Avon Hills Conservation Action Plan Grant, The Nature Conservancy; Ordway Glacial Lakes Office, Principle Investigator, 2007.

Faculty Research Grant, St. Cloud State University Office of Sponsored Programs, Study of Sediment Influence on E. coli Loading of the Sauk River, Principle Investigator, 2007.

Apollo High School Service Learning Experience Grant, Jeffers Foundation Partnership Grant Program, Participant, 2006.

Research and Creative Activity Grant, St. Cloud State University Office of Sponsored Programs, Instrumentation Funding, Principle Investigator, 2005.

Healthy Lakes and Rivers Program, Initiative Foundation, written on behalf of the "Friends of the Sauk River", 2004.

Center for Teaching and Learning Grant, Interdisciplinary Research Experience for Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental and Technological Studies Undergraduates: Opening Avenues to Meaningful Science Learning, Participant, 2004.

Faculty Research Grant, St. Cloud State University Office of Sponsored Programs, Preliminary Study of the Influence of Lawn Maintenance Practices on Nutrient Loading in the Sauk River, Principle Investigator, 2003.

 

Presentations

Presentations given by M.R. Bender

Bender, M.R. 2009 (accepted).The Big Dividends of a Small Undergraduate Research Group. Annual Association for Environmental Studies and SciencesMeeting, Madison, WI.

Bender, M.R. 2009 (accepted).Using Snapshot Sampling to Characterize an Impaired Water. Annual Association for Environmental Studies and SciencesMeeting, Madison, WI.

Bender, M.R. 2008. The Big Dividends of a Small Undergraduate Research Group. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Houston, TX.

Bender, M.R., A.K. Pradhananga and J.C. Galzki. 2008. Using Snapshot Sampling to Characterize an Impaired Water. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Houston, TX.

Bender, M.R., J.C. Galzki and M.A. Dvorak. 2007. Characteristics of a Fecal Coliform Impaired Water. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, New Orleans, LA.

Bender, M.R., A.K. Pradhananga and S.M. Sewell. 2006. Soil Amino Sugar Nitrogen in Residential Lawns in St. Cloud, MN. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Indianapolis, IN.

Bender, M.R. and S.M. Sewell. 2004. Influence of Lawn Fertilizers on Nutrient Loading in the Sauk River (St. Cloud, MN). Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Seattle, WA.

Bender, M.R. and S.M. Sewell. 2004. Lawn Maintenance Survey of Homeowners along the Sauk River (St. Cloud, MN). Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Seattle, WA.

Bender, M.R. and C.W. Wood. 1999. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Red Imported Fire Ant Mounds. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, St. Lake City, UT.

Bender, M.R. and C.W. Wood. 1999. Nitrous Oxide and Methane Emissions from Swine Waste Amended Soil. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, St. Lake City, UT.

Bender, M.R., C.W. Wood and D.W. Reeves. 1999. The Interactive Effects of Traffic and Tillage on Denitrification. Southern Branch of American Society of Agronomy, Memphis, TN.

Bender, M.R. and C.W. Wood. 1998. Effects of Swine Waste Application on Above and Below Ground Nitrous Oxide Emissions. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Baltimore, MD.

Bender, M.R. and C.W. Wood. 1998. Above- and Below- Ground N2O Emissions from Swine Waste Amended Soil. Southern Branch of American Society of Agronomy, Little Rock, AR.

Presentations given by undergraduate research students directed by M.R. Bender

Hawkins, D., D. Ziegler and M.R. Bender. 2009 (accepted).Analysis of Sediment Pond Effectiveness near Lake Osakis, Minnesota. Annual Association for Environmental Studies and SciencesMeeting, Madison, WI.

Niraula, S., P. Bhattarai and M.R. Bender. 2009 (accepted).Water Quality Analysis of the Sauk River and Mississippi River Confluence in Minnesota. Annual Association for Environmental Studies and SciencesMeeting, Madison, WI.

Gutknecht, Z., M. Hayman and M.R. Bender. 2009 (accepted).Stream Bank Analysis of Kinzer Creek and Getchell Creek in Minnesota. Annual Association for Environmental Studies and SciencesMeeting, Madison, WI.

Hayman, M.D., K.R. Fisher and M.R. Bender. 2008. Avon Hills Conservation Action Plan. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Houston, TX.

Stafne, J.J., D.J. Nadeau, C.L. Rose and M.R. Bender. 2008. Analysis of Nutrient Loading in Johnson Creek. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Houston, TX.

Galzki, J.C. and M.R. Bender. 2007. Investigation of Feedlot Contribution to Coliform Contamination in the Sauk River. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, New Orleans, LA.

Nadeau, D.J. and M.R. Bender. 2007. Analysis of Shoreline Soil along the Sauk River. In Agronomy Abstracts. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, New Orleans, LA.

Galzki, J.C. and M.R. Bender. 2006. Analysis of Nutrient Loading and Fecal Coliform Contamination of the Sauk River (St. Cloud, MN). Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Indianapolis, IN.

Storlien, J.O. and M.R. Bender. 2006. Interactive Effect of Soil Amino Sugar Nitrogen and Fertilizer on Lawn Response. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Indianapolis, IN.

Presentations given by graduate research students directed by M.R. Bender

Borgerding, T., M.R. Bender, C.L. Rose, J. Arriagada. 2009 (accepted).Restoration of Battle Point Park on Lake Osakis, Minnesota. Annual Association for Environmental Studies and SciencesMeeting, Madison, WI.

Storlien, J.O., M.R. Bender, D. Fuchs and T. Chmielewski. 2008. Comparative Risk Analysis of Abandoned Manure Basins. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Houston, TX. In Agronomy Abstracts, ASA, Madison, WI.

Sanoski, B.R. and M.R. Bender. 2007. GIS Study of an Impaired Water: Getchell Creek. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, New Orleans, LA.

Storlien, J.O. and M.R. Bender. 2007. Manure Basin Storage Abandonment Alternatives and Water Quality Improvement. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, New Orleans, LA.

Storlien, J.O. and M.R. Bender. 2007. Risk Assessment of Manure Basin Abandonment Alternative. Annual International Meeting of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, New Orleans, LA.

 

Podcasts

Episode 225: 'Brown is Beautiful'. Podcast interview on Small Bytes (March 28, 2007). St. Cloud State University. Hear interview.