UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

We are excited to introduce the 1909 Society! 🐊

The goal of the 1909 Society is to help support high impact experiences for students, scholarships, and more. Join fellow friends and alumni by making a recurring gift of $19.09 to help create invaluable experiences and opportunities for AEC students.

https://bit.ly/4eIfraR

We are excited to announce Dr. Laura Warners promotion to Professor! Dr. Warner specializes in translating behavioral theory into practical action and understanding the human dimensions of best practice adoption. Congratulations, Dr. Warner! 👏

This past week, faculty and graduate students attended the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Annual Conference in Wooster, Ohio! Congratulations to our graduate students who received NACTA Teaching Awards and to Dr. Laura Greenhaw for being awarded the NACTA Distinguished Teaching Award! Students also presented research, attended workshops, and networked with other teaching professionals!
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1st 📷 L- R: Matthew Gold (M.S.), Madison Dyment (PhD), Dr. Laura Greenhaw (Assistant Professor), and Carrie Baker (PhD) received the NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Awards
2nd 📷 L- R: Carol Hayes Atkins (M.S. and NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Awardee) and Dr. Heather Young (Instructional Assistant Professor)
3rd 📷: Madison Dyment gave an oral presentation titled "Honoring Excellence: Enhancing an Undergraduate Honors Thesis Experience for Students and Faculty" (co-author, Ricky Telg).
4th 📷: Dr. Heather Young presenting and oral abstract of her dissertation.

Awardees not pictured: Gabriel Spandau (PhD) and Caroline Nickerson (PhD)

Congratulations to Susan Rodriguez for successfully defending her masters project titled, "Revitalizing Downtown: A Strategic Social Media Framework for Go Downtown, inc."

She was advised by Dr. Jamie Loizzo and her committee member was Dr. Lisa Lundy! Congratulations!

Are you interested in learning more about a graduate degree in Agricultural Education and Communication? Join us on August 15, 2024 for AEC Gator Day! This virtual event will answer any questions about our specializations, admissions, funding, and more!

Register here: https://bit.ly/3VylF4c

Congratulations to Dr. Jamie Loizzo! 👏

Congratulations to Dr. Kate Fletcher on the successful defense of her dissertation, "Transformative Journeys: Exploring the Medium-Term Impacts and Outcomes of an International Service-Learning Study Abroad Program."

She was advised by Dr. Grady Roberts and her committee members were Dr. Nicole Stedman, Dr. Matt Benge, and Dr. Dale Pracht! Congratulations, Kate! 👏

🎓 Celebration Alert: Senior Spotlight! 🎓
Join us in celebrating Bailee Lawrence, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education & Communication! 🎉👩‍🎓
After graduation, Bailee will be attending The University of Florida School of Health and Human Performance to obtain her master's in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
During her time in AEC, Bailee served as the department's Communications Student Assistant, where she excelled in enhancing communication strategies and outreach efforts for our department!
Thank you for your hard work and congratulations, Bailee! 🎓

🎓 Celebration Alert: Senior Spotlight! 🎓

Join us in celebrating Elizabeth Putnam, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education & Communication! 🎉👩‍🎓

After graduation, Elizabeth will be furthering her academic journey at UF Levin College of Law.

Her favorite experiences as an AEC student were found in the Challange 2050 Certificate courses instructed by Dr. Natalie Coers!

Congratulations, Elizabeth! 🎓

Congratulations to Annabel Henson on the successful defense of her master’s thesis, “Communicating Policy in Agriculture and Natural Resources: A Chapter on Policy Communication for the Agriculture and Natural Resources Communication Online Textbook”.

She was advised by Dr. Ricky Telg and her committee member was Dr. Lisa Lundy.


Congratulations Annabel!

🎓 Celebration Alert: Senior Spotlight! 🎓

Join us in celebrating Erin Morrissey, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education & Communication! 🎉👩‍🎓

Erin plans to continue teaching at the high school level and serve as an FFA advisor, encouraging the next generation of agriculturalists.

During her time, Erin enjoyed the smaller more personalized class sizes and the endless networking opportunities. She served as a TeachAG Ambassador and represented the department at conferences.

Congratulations, Erin! 🎓

🎓 Celebration Alert: Senior Spotlight! 🎓

Join us in celebrating Tèa Startz, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education & Communication! 🎉👩‍🎓

Tèa plans to continue her career in sports communication and marketing. When she's not in the classroom, she can often be found capturing the thrilling moments on the sidelines of various Gator sports games, serving as a dedicated sports photographer for the university.

Her favorite memory of her time in AEC was getting to create a video highlighting one of her mentors growing up, Stephen Singleton. The project showed her how much she enjoy getting to be creative and showcasing different stories happening all around us.

Congratulations, Tèa! 🎓

🎓 Celebration Alert: Senior Spotlight! 🎓

Join us in celebrating Morgan R***r, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education & Communication! 🎉

Upon graduation, Morgan will be starting out as a Sales Coordinator for Synergy Equipment Company. She eagerly anticipates increasing her engagement in leadership positions within both the Florida Farm Bureau YF&R and the Florida Cattlewomen's Association.

Her favorite experience was the opportunity to participate in a study abroad trip to Croatia last summer with the CALS Leadership Institute.

Congratulations, Morgan! 🎓

Recent AEC-CLD graduate Hunter Altman, doctoral student Maddi Dyment, and Dr. Ricky Telg shot a video, which Hunter edited, of manatee rescue and rehabilitation in the fall of 2023. The videos Hunter produced are on display at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s new permanent exhibit, “Water Shapes Florida.” Hunter and Dr. Telg attended the ribbon cutting for the new exhibit on March 22.

Congratulations to all!

🎓 Celebration Alert: Senior Spotlight! 🎓

Join us in celebrating Morgan Young, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education & Communication! 🎉👩‍🎓
Morgan plans to continue her education by pursuing a master's degree in Construction Management at The University of Florida.

As an AEC student, Morgan deeply values the wealth of new friendships and meaningful connections she has made throughout her academic journey.

Congratulations, Morgan! 🎓

📢 Calling all AEC students graduating this semester: be on the lookout for a survey from Becky Cook in your email! If you fill it out and come to her office in Bryant Space Science Center, you can add this AEC Alumni sticker to your collection!
Finish out the semester strong AEC!

🎓 Celebration Alert: Senior Spotlight! 🎓

Join us in celebrating Justice-Ann Morrison, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Education & Communication! 🎉👩‍🎓
Justice-Ann plans to ignite a passion for agriscience foundations and animal sciences as a high school educator.
During her time, Justice-Ann thrived as a student teacher, bridging theory with real-world practice. She's ready to inspire the next generation of agricultural enthusiasts!

Congratulations, Justice-Ann! 🎓

Dr. Jamie Loizzo, Associate Professor in AEC, is making waves in academia with innovative projects that redefine learning experiences. Through The Streaming Science Project, a student-driven project-based learning science literacy program, Dr. Loizzo has developed courses immersing AEC students into interactive communication platforms and employed unique research methods than what are typically taught.

In AEC 5541, graduate students developed a learning journey focused on plant disease diagnostics and strawberry genetics in partnership with the UF Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. The resulting electronic field trip (EFT) reached middle and high school students across multiple states to enrich their scientific knowledge and foster interest in plant science careers.

In addition, Dr. Loizzo's impact extends to the development of AEC 6932, Participatory Arts-Based Research (PABR), to teach UF graduate students about advanced qualitative research methods. The course highlights co-creative practices like poetic inquiry and performance, presenting a unique approach to unraveling social phenomena in agriculture and natural resources. The positive student feedback and subsequent conference presentations and journal publications demonstrate the course's transformative influence.

Dr. Loizzo's commitment to innovative teaching methods and impactful research is evident, propelling the University of Florida towards a future where agriculture and natural resources are studied and understood through diverse lenses.

AEC faculty are making a difference in Florida and beyond, leaving a positive mark on students and communities. Follow to stay updated on their weekly highlights!

Congratulations to Dr. Maegan Meredith on the successful defense of her dissertation, “Leader Efficacy in Agriculture Leadership Development Programs”.

She was advised by Dr. Nicole Stedman and her committee members were Dr. JC Bunch, Dr. Sarah Bush, and Dr. Dale Pracht.

Congratulations Maegan!

Dr. John Diaz is reshaping agricultural education to be more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the Latino and Hispanic communities. His commitment to diversity and pluralism is evident through the creation of the Coalition of Florida Extension Educators for the Latino Community (CAFÉ Latino). Recognizing the surging growth of the Latino population in the U.S., Diaz strategically orchestrated this transformative coalition to bridge language gaps and address educational challenges faced by Spanish-speaking individuals.

Under Diaz's guidance, CAFÉ Latino has become a trailblazer, redefining traditional models of diversity initiatives. This grassroots, self-organized effort goes beyond affinity groups, functioning as a service organization with a clear strategic plan, evaluation tools, and a participatory decision-making structure. The impact is profound, with a wealth of resources developed—612 products, including videos, podcasts, and curricula, tailored for Spanish-speaking communities.

Diaz's innovative approach extends beyond Florida, creating a ripple effect nationally and globally. CAFÉ Latino's reach spans borders, breaking down language barriers and fostering collaborations that empower Extension educators to better serve diverse audiences. John Diaz is not just shaping the future of agricultural education; he's paving the way for a more inclusive and impactful Extension system. In recognition of this hard work, Dr. Diaz won the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Extension Award this year.

Congratulations to Alexis Bolger on the successful defense of her master’s thesis, “Paleo Podcasts: Using Participatory Narrative Inquiry to Evaluate Student Learning in a 4-H Paleontology Summer Camp”.

She was advised by Dr. Jamie Loizzo and her committee member was Dr. Sadie Hundemer.

Congratulations Alexis!

Congratulations to Carol Atkins on the successful defense of her master’s thesis, “Evaluating the Self-Perceived Preparedness of Preservice Teachers in UF’s AEC Teacher Preparation Program: A Longitudinal Study”.

She was advised by Dr. Debra Barry and her committee member was Dr. Carla Jagger.

Congratulations Carol!

Dr. Katie Stofer's innovative endeavor – the Facilitating STEM for All Learners online certificate - marks a pivotal step in reshaping professional development for secondary school STEM and agriculture teachers and informal learning educators. This initiative, a functional pilot certificate, forms part of a broader series of teacher workshops designed to engage educators of various backgrounds, primarily middle and high school teachers.

Dr. Stofer's commitment is clear: facilitating teachers' access to current research and showcasing its practical applications. The workshops emphasize the ongoing nature of agricultural STEM research, breaking the stereotype of static information. The workshops, especially geared towards southeastern and rural teachers, incorporate in-person components in Gainesville and Regional Extension Centers (RECs) for wider accessibility.

The certificate serves as the foundation for this dynamic workshop series, providing a more accessible option for teachers unable to attend in-person sessions. Online resources, including documents, discussions, and videos, enhance collaborative learning. Driven by the theme that teachers' experiences in the classroom inform researchers and vice versa, the workshops foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

This is just the beginning – version 1.0. Dr. Stofer, alongside collaborators Dr. Julie Bokor and Dr. Heather Kent, envisions growth and updates based on feedback and evolving needs. The certificate stands alone but integrates seamlessly into the expanding workshop series, set to launch new teacher workshops in summer 2024. Dr. Katie Stofer is paving the way for transformative professional development in agricultural STEM education.

If you’re interested in completing the certification, you can find it here: https://bit.ly/49dkNrj

Congratulations to Susan Reams on the successful defense of her master’s thesis, “Environmental Values of Christian Agricultural Development Workers”.

She was advised by Dr. Natalie Coers and her committee member was Dr. Sadie Hundemer.

Congratulations Susan!

Congratulations to Matthew Gold on the successful defense of his thesis, “Cracking the Code: Understanding the differences between inductive and deductive approaches using visual media on team development.”
He was advised by Dr. Laura Greenhaw, and his committee member was Dr. J.C. Bunch.
Congratulations Matthew!

Dr. Heather Young joined AEC as an instructional assistant professor in August 2023 and hit the ground running in the management and direction of two of AEC’s most populated undergraduate classes, AEC3030C: Effective Oral Communication, and AEC3033C: Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences. The courses strengthen students’ communication and writing skills no matter their major at UF. But it’s not just the undergraduate students whose skills are growing through these classes, the AEC graduate students working as the teaching assistants for this class are tasked with teaching, grading, and providing guidance to students as needed, and Dr. Young helps to foster the TA’s abilities to do this.

Her TA’s have been quoted saying, “I love being a TA with Dr. Young. She is flexible and realistic with us and sets a very good example for how to treat students.” Another TA noted, “Dr. Young’s course organization and willingness to answer questions at all times was vital to the course, and I’m glad I got to be a part of it!”

AEC faculty are making a difference in Florida and beyond, leaving a positive mark on students both undergraduate, and graduate. Follow to stay updated on their weekly highlights!

Current AEC senior, Bailee Lawrence completed the Annual Meeting Event Planning internship through Florida Farm Bureau Fall of 2023. What she took away the most from her internship was working alongside professionals in the event planning industry as well as the agriculture industry who were all excited to take her under their wing. Her AEC classes were more than just coursework; they were the backbone of her experience, providing her with a solid foundation and essential skills that made a significant impact. The classes equipped her with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed in event planning. From creating ideas to executing seamless events, she was well-prepared to tackle the challenges of the internship. “My Florida Farm Bureau Internship was a major stepping stone in my career path and the mentorships and connections I got out of it has opened doors and lead me to where I am today.” Congratulations Bailee!

AEC Ph.D. Student Caroline Nickerson and Streaming Science has developed ClimateCast Live, a series of digital field experiences designed to educate and Floridians about topics relating to climate change and the environment. Events kick off in Sarasota NEXT week on 2/26, to learn more about the program and where you can attend the county-specific program follow the link to the AEC Blog.

ClimateCast Live: Digital Field Experiences with UF/IFAS Extension By: Caroline Nickerson, AEC Ph.D. Student Gainesville, FL – The Streaming Science project, a program associated with the University of Florida, is excited to announce ClimateCast Live, a groundbreaking series of digital field experiences (DFEs) designed to educate and engage adults in Florida topi...

Lisa Lundy and Jamie Loizzo are going beyond the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, reaching students in the UF Honors Program, creating uncommon experiences outside of the classroom to increase understanding of science communication. Read more about the first program Dr. Lundy conducted with AEC’s Dr. Loizzo at UF’s Nature Coast Biological Station, and what students learned and experienced last fall!

https://bit.ly/4bL0PGa

AEC faculty are making a difference in Florida and beyond, leaving a positive mark on students and communities. Follow to stay updated on their weekly highlights!