Staff - Page 2 of 2 - Organic Farming Research Foundation

Leah Lawson (she/her/hers)

Partnerships & Development Director

email: leah[at]ofrf.org

Leah Lawson has been an active and passionate advocate for an equitable food system that uplifts communities and reinvigorates the land for the past decade. She fell in love with agriculture while working on a process evaluation in a small farming community in Maharashtra, India, as part of her Masters’ degree in International Development. The combination of regenerative practices and community-led action left a deep impression on her work. Since then, she has built skills in grant writing, fundraising, board structure, strategic planning, project management, and facilitation, which she uses to further the creation of a strong and inclusive food system.

Leah lives in Chicago, where she has worked for organizations that serve rural and urban farmers, including Angelic Organics Learning Center, one of her favorite places in northern Illinois. She enjoys board service and helping new and young organizations get their footing. She has served on the board of Advocates for Urban Agriculture and North Branch Projects, both community-based orgs. Currently, she sits on the board of Windy City ToolBank, an affiliate of ToolBank USA, where she is helping to establish programming that allows organizations in the region to participate in radical sharing; ensuring everyone has access to tools they need to create, improve, and care for their community.

By office|2024-06-18T18:23:11+00:00February 16th, 2023|Staff|

Thelma Velez (she/her/ella)

Thelma Velez 2023-b&w cropped for feature

Research & Education Program Director

thelma[at]ofrf.org

Thelma Velez (she/her/ella) is the Research and Education Program Director at OFRF. She has been embedded in organic agriculture, sustainable food systems, and climate justice for over 15 years. In her role as director, Thelma engages in collaborative efforts with farmers, university faculty, Extension specialists, and government and non-government organizations nationwide. Her focus is on fortifying existing research and education programs and pioneering new initiatives that equitably contribute to the enhancement of our nation’s food system and provide a strategic advantage for organic farmers. With support from the OFRF team, she has helped advocate for organic at the federal level and provided expert testimony to the U.S. Congress House Agriculture Committee on the importance of organic agriculture for climate change mitigation and adaptation. She is a two time alum of Florida International University (BA and MS), and earned her PhD in from Ohio State University, where she focused on the expansion of agroecology in Puerto Rico, post-Hurricane Maria, as a means to create a more climate resilient food system and address systemic injustices.

Thelma loves growing food, cooking food, and introducing friends to the politics of food and agriculture. As a first-generation American and a woman of color, she is mindful of matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and she incorporates her experiences into both her personal and professional life. In her spare time she enjoys planning and executing DIY projects that stretch her creative and physical boundaries.

By office|2024-01-10T02:08:53+00:00November 6th, 2019|Staff|

Dominica Navarro Martinez (she/her/ella)

Deputy Director

email: dominica[at]ofrf.org

Dominica Navarro has worked with organizations championing public health, diversity in higher education, pesticide reduction, and organic and climate-smart farming practices. She has devoted much of her professional career to nonprofit management, finance, administration and strategic development. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with majors in both Environmental and Community Studies and has worked on various sustainable agriculture projects in the US and abroad. Dominica is a current board member of Rogue Farm Corps and also serves on the Advisory Boards for Re:Wild Your Campus and Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network. Dominica lives in Central Oregon on the sovereign nation of the Warm Springs, Wasco and Northern Paiute tribes and loves stewarding land, hanging out with her family, cooking, sailing, hiking and traveling.

By office|2023-12-21T00:26:34+00:00October 1st, 2019|Staff|

Brise Tencer (she/her/hers)

Executive Director

email: brise[at]ofrf.org

Brise Tencer (she/her/hers) has dedicated over 25 years to advancing organic food policy, farming, and research. As the Executive Director of OFRF since 2014, Brise oversees the organization’s research, education, and advocacy initiatives, focusing on supporting farmers and driving policies that champion organic agriculture. Her deep connection to organic farming goes beyond her professional life—she’s passionate about the power of organic practices to heal the land and provide sustainable solutions for our food system.

Earlier in her career at OFRF (2000-2006), Brise helped create the Organic Agricultural Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives and secure the recognition of organic farming as a “good farming practice” under federal crop insurance programs. She has also served as Director of Policy and Programs at California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and as a senior lobbyist for the Union of Concerned Scientists, where she led campaigns linking organic farming to climate resilience and public health.

Brise has served on the boards of several organizations committed to sustainable agriculture, including the National Organic Coalition and the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides. She holds a B.A. in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Certificate in Conflict Resolution, and an M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

When she’s not advocating for organic farmers, Brise enjoys working in the garden, experimenting with new vegetarian recipes, traveling, and spending time with her family outdoors. Deeply committed to environmental sustainability and social justice, she believes in the power of organic farming to foster a healthier planet and a more equitable food system for all.