Jane is a Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University and has authored or coauthored more than 30 extension publications dealing with watershed management and assessment, wellhead protection, drinking water testing and treatment, and land use impacts on water quality. She received her BS from St. Olaf College in Physics (magna cum laude), her MS from the University of Minnesota in Agricultural Engineering and her PhD from Cornell University in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. She taught physics and mathematics for three years in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was an Agricultural Development Specialist in Senegal with the Lutheran Church ELCA for six years and a visiting scientist with the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.