Skudrzyk, Basia

Bio

Basia Skudrzyk, a global expert in education and workforce development, has expertise in supply chain, continuous improvement, and organizational behavior systems. She is passionate about improving the lives of people through education and workforce opportunities.

Skudrzyk is NASA Acres program coordinator and faculty specialist at the University of Maryland focused on improving food security through Earth Observation satellite data. NASA Acres is a leading and innovative Consortium launched in April 2023; focused on U.S. agriculture using Earth Observation satellite data. Led by the University of Maryland with >30 partners and counting, NASA Acres aims to deliver on the promise of a 50-year legacy of satellite observations of agricultural systems through multisectoral and transdisciplinary collaboration. The Consortium bridges the gap from space-to-farm and education-to-impact together with the U.S. farmers, ranchers, and other agrifood system decision makers who are charged with addressing the most pressing challenges to sustainable, productive, and resilient agriculture, both today and into the next generation. NASA Acres advances methods for mapping Essential Agriculture Variables (EAVs), applies the EAVs to better understand U.S. agriculture, and supports the development and transition of satellite data, products, and tools for long-term adoption. Initial projects include analyses of climate smart agriculture practices and outcomes, evaluation and forecasting of water resource available and uses, and multiple precision management-relevant work on nitrogen needs, pest and disease detection, and rangeland forage quality.

Underpinning this work is a concerted focus on farmer data autonomy and privacy, workforce development, and advancement of diversity, equity,inclusion, and justice principles. This programmatic overview will highlight the NASA Acres structure, discuss the Consortium’s thematic elements and focus areas, and share opportunities for joining the Consortium. Individuals and organizations working in these areas are encouraged to attend to learn how to engage in collaborations with NASA Acres.

She is a recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s “40 under 40” award.

Skudrzyk holds a BA in Business Administration and Organizational Behavior and an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing; she is currently pursuing her DBA at the University of Missouri - St. Louis in Supply Chain Risk and Resilience. Skudrzyk is a graduate of the FOCUS “CORO Women in Leadership” program and is fluent in Polish and English.