Cody Domenghini, PhD

Biography

Dr. Cody Domenghini was born and raised in Morro Bay, California. He attended California Polytechnic State University (B.S. and M.S.) in San Luis Obispo, California focusing his studies on agriculture education and horticulture. He and his wife owned and operated a landscape contracting business for eight years on the central coast of California and he taught high school agriculture in Templeton, California for six years. In 2008, he and his wife moved to Manhattan, KS to pursue doctoral degrees in horticulture at Kansas State University.

During his time at K-State, Dr. Domenghini focused his research on sustainable landscapes by evaluating water use and drought performance of various turf and landscape species. He also helped develop online programming for HORT 405 - Water Issues in the Lawn and Landscape.

Upon graduation from K-State, he worked for Illinois Central College as an Assistant Professor with a 100% teaching appointment for two years. He then spent eight years at Eastern Kentucky University as an Associate Professor (80% teaching, 10% research, 10% service) and had a leadership role as Interim Department Chair for several months. Dr. Domenghini was eager to return “home” to K-State with his family in 2023 where he serves as an Assistant Professor (80% teaching, 20% research) of Landscape Management. Dr. Domenghini values interaction with his students and enjoys working with them to help them achieve their academic and career goals.

Dr. Domenghini’s free-time is primarily filled with activities his four children are involved in, but he also enjoys traveling the globe.

Education

• PhD Kansas State University, Horticulture, 2012
• MS California Polytechnic State University, Agriculture Science, 2008
• BS California Polytechnic State University, Environmental Horticulture Science, 2001
• AS Modesto Junior College, Animal Science, 1999

Research

Dr. Domenghini's research activities focus on the evaluation of sustainable landscape practices, specifically studying drought stress and water deficit irrigation of landscape and turfgrass species commonly used in landscapes. He also researches scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) to better improve his teaching practices.