Department News Archives
Stories here are at least 6 months or older. Any stories older than 18 months are deleted.
WLI Hosts International Leadership Meeting
Posted Nov. 29, 2007
The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (WLI) hosted the annual directors meeting for the International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leaders (IAPAL) in Miami, Florida in October. Directors and staff from all over the world came together to discuss their own programs and to learn what each other are doing to continually improve their own programs. Continuing directors look to help new directors and upcoming programs such as South Carolina and Alberta to gain more knowledge and advice in developing their new programs in order to sustain the growth and development of leaders in agriculture throughout the US and other countries across the world. The director of WLI brought in speakers to present issues surrounding the Miami area as well as the rest of Florida, as well as motivational speaker and the sister of an alumnus from WLI, Dr. Mary Guy Miller of Blacksburg, Virginia.
Hartmann in Ethiopia
Posted Oct. 4,2007
At the invitation of PROLINNOVA International our own Marta Hartmann participated in the three-week “Participatory Innovation for Development (PID): A Training of Facilitators” course in Addis Ababa this summer. In mid-July, Hartmann and 17 other participants representing 7 African and 3 Latin-American countries convened at the Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA) Training Center for the event.
The International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) facilitated the PROLINNOVA-sponsored training. The course primarily focused on the competencies in supporting local innovation in agriculture and natural resource management. It provided participants an understanding of socio-organizational arrangements needed to regulate the use of natural resources, tap into the social capital within communities and discover new ways of stakeholder interactions that encourage local innovation development.
Throughout the course PID specialists from ETC EcoCulture and the Centre for International Cooperation, NGOs from the Netherlands, as well as the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) visited with the participants. Hartmann regards the required field practicum as one of the most valuable components of the course. Elected team leader, Hartmann and her group conducted fieldwork in communities in the vicinity of the city of Ambo, west of the Ethiopian capital. While in Addis Ababa, Hartmann was invited by PROLINNOVA-Ethiopia to participate in a panel discussion on innovation systems approach.
“The PROLINNOVA/PID network developed in Ethiopia represents a tremendous resource for future potential collaborations” Marta Hartmann stated.
At the invitation of the Red de Acción en Agricultura Alternativa, one of PROLINNOVA’s major collaborators in South America, Hartmann will participate in the Technologies and Participatory Innovation Development (PID) for Rural Development in Latin-America international seminar next month in Lima, Peru.
STEP launches videos on YouTube
Posted August 16, 2007
STEP (Scientific Thinking & Educational Partnership) videos are up on YouTube. STEP is a special program hosted by our department. 40 videos have been produced and 16 are up for viewing on YouTube. See the videos.
ACLT members successful at National ACT Conference
Posted August 16, 2007
The following UF Agricultural Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow members received awards at the 2007 National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow conference in Louisville a few weeks ago:
- Sara Shepherd: 1st, other photo
- Megan Crandall: 2nd, animal photo
- Angelina Toomey: 2nd, advertisement
Katelyn Crow was elected 2nd vice president for the National ACT organization for 2007-08.
UF’s ACLT chapter also will be in charge of the Livestock Publications Council’s Critique and Contest for the next three years.
New workspace for AEC Students
Posted July 23, 2007
The computer lab in Rolfs 409 has had face-lift with all new computers and more work stations. This space will serve as a teaching lab for some of the hands-on agricultural communications courses.
Wedgworth Leadership Institute recognized nationally
Posted July 23, 2007
At the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Association of Leadership Educators, the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources was presented with the "Outstanding Leadership Education Program" for its impact on future leaders. It is important to note that this award spans all leadership programs, from high school, to universities, to communities, industries and disciplines. It is a huge honor for the WLIANR.
Still rackin' them up: AEC faculty and students win awards at 2007 ACE Conference
Posted June 28, 2007
At the Association for Communication Excellence conference in Albuquerque, the University of Florida was well-represented with awards. Departmental faculty and students were recognized for outstanding research and in some of the Critique and Awards Program categories. Following is the list of awards received by AEC faculty and students (and recent graduates):
Research Paper Presentations
First place faculty research paper: recent UF alum Emily Rhoades
Second place faculty research paper: Amanda Ruth and Ricky Telg
First place graduate student research paper: Katie Chodil, Tracy Irani, Courtney Meyers
Second place graduate student research paper: Courtney Meyers and Tracy Irani
ACE Critique and Awards Program
Gold award for Solutions for Your Life marketing campaign: Team includes Liz Felter & Tracy Irani Gold award for Solutions for Your Life website: Team includes Liz Felter & Tracy Irani
Tracy Irani was also voted Vice Chair of the Academic Programs SIG
AEC faculty and students win awards at 2007 AAAE Conference
Posted June 4, 2007
Congratulations to the following award winners from the 2007 National AAAE Conference. The conference was held in Minneapolis, MN the week of May 16 – 18, 2007.
- Dr. Wendy Warner (2006 PhD graduate and currently at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo) and Dr. Shannon Washburn received 2nd runner up on their paper entitled: A Grounded Theory Description of Novice Urban Agriculture Teachers’ Career Experiences
- Dr. Ed Osborne received the 2007 Outstanding Agricultural Educator award
- Dr. Ed Osborne was nominated and inducted as a AAAE Fellow
- Dr. Brian Myers and Dr. Jim Dyer received the Outstanding Article for the Journal of Agricultural Education Volume 47 1st runner up award
AEC graduate student wins two teaching awards
Posted April 7, 2007
Nick Fuhrman, Ph.D. candidate in the AEC Department, has been selected to receive a UF Graduate Student Teaching Award for 2006-07. This is a very prestigious award, as typically less than 20 of the nearly 2,000 teaching assistants at UF are selected to receive this award each year. Even so, Nick joins former AEC graduate students Hannah Carter, Amanda Ruth, and Travis Park as recipients of this award since 2001. A reception for award recipients will be held in the Friends of Music Room in the University Auditorium on April 26 at 3:30 pm. For the first time, recipients of this campus teaching award will also be recognized in the UF Commencement program.
Nick has also been chosen to receive the Jack L. Fry Award for Excellence in Teaching in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. This award is presented annually to recognize teaching excellence among graduate students in the college. Nick will receive this prestigious CALS award at the 2007 Scholarship and Leadership Awards Banquet on Friday, 13 April, at 6 pm in the Harn Museum.
Wedgworth Leadership Institute board member wins award
Posted April 2, 2007
Janice Barner, Executive Secretary for the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources, was one of this year’s recipients of an UF/IFAS Superior Accomplishment Award presented on March 22, 2007.
Janice was chosen for this award based on her excellent work with the Wedgworth Leadership Institute. The success of this program is due in large part to all of Janice’s efforts and her continued enthusiasm for the people she works with to accomplish the goals of the program. Janice’s enthusiasm doesn’t end with the program, even though her position is with the leadership program, she is a great asset to the AEC department and can always be counted on for a cheerful smile when students stop by the leadership program offices.
Janice epitomizes what a “Superior Accomplishment Award” winner should be and the Department, IFAS, and UF are fortunate to have such an outstanding employee!
Graduate program growing
By Bonnie Pell
Posted Feb. 13, 2007
The graduate program for the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication is growing in more ways than one. The master’s and doctoral programs currently have almost 80 students enrolled.
Associate professor and former AEC graduate coordinator Nick Place said the growth of the graduate program has not only been in numbers, but also in quality. “The University of Florida is a great school that is respected both nationally and internationally,” Place said.
With more students, the department has more opportunities to seek grant funding for research. Professor Ricky Telg said the research done by students and faculty together gives the department recognition.
Today, the department is one of the top third- or fourth-ranked in the nation, Place said.
“UF is the place to be for graduate school,” said associate professor Tracy Irani. Irani, recently appointed as graduate coordinator, said that master’s and doctoral students in the department can receive Graduate Program Experiences Growth a holistic experience throughout their education.Students are partnered with faculty and get exposure to the industries in which they are interested.
The doctorate program has seen much expansion since it was started in 2000. More than 20 students are enrolled, most of whom will seek careers as university faculty. Doctoral graduates have been successfully placed in faculty positions at universities like The Ohio State University, Texas A&M University and Louisiana State University, Irani said.
Students have options with the diverse specializations offered by the department: agricultural communication, agricultural education, Extension education and leadership development. Place said the majority of students seeking their master’s degree will pursue careers in human resources, Extension, communications, marketing or education.
The newest addition to the department’s graduate program is the distance-delivered master’s program. About 30 students are enrolled in the program, designed for Extension agents and agriscience teachers.
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