Tom Stewart, middle, with family, friends and colleagues from CFAES and ACEL.

Tom Stewart, a lecturer in agricultural communication, received Ohio State’s Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer when Provost Bruce McPheron,CFAES Dean Cathann A. Kress, family, friends, students, and colleagues paid a surprise visit to his classroom on March 25.

Sponsored by Ohio State’s Office of Academic Affairs, the annual award honors up to six lecturers, senior lecturers, and other associated faculty members for their teaching excellence.

Stewart, an Ohio native, Ohio State alumnus, and long-time TV and radio professional, teaches three courses for ACEL—Oral Expression in Agriculture, Campaign Design and Management in Agricultural Organization and Senior Transition from College.

Congratulations Tom! We are so thankful to have you as part of our department.

Students from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) competed in undergraduate research forums at The Ohio State University. The University’s Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum on February 20 and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Undergraduate Research Forum on March 6.

Kayla Walls, a senior studying agriscience education from Mendon, participated in both undergraduate research forums. At the Denman, she was awarded first place in the education across the human lifespan category and at the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum, she was awarded first place in the social sciences category. For her research project, “Safety Education for Women in Agriculture,” she was mentored by Dr. Dee Jepsen, associate professor in the Department of Food, Agriculture and Biological Engineering.

Courtney Fulton, a senior studying agricultural communication from Kenton, Ohio, participated in both the Denman and the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum. Her research project, “Exploring the Roles of youth in Community Programming and Their Connections to Positive youth Development and Involvement in Community,” was mentored by Dr. Mary Rodriguez, an associate professor of community leadership, and Dr. Jera Niewoehner-Green, an associate professor of community leadership.

Abby Motter, a senior studying agriscience education from Mansfield, Ohio, participated in the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum. She was awarded second place in the social sciences category for her project “The Influence of Pre-Service Teacher’s Education Abroad Experience in Choluteca, Honduras on Internationalize Agricultural Curriculum”. She was mentored by Dr. Tracy Kitchel, professor of agriscience education.

“The research our undergraduate students conducted and presented at these research forums has the opportunity to change communities and programs,” said Dr. Tracy Kitchel, professor and chair for the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership. “I am extremely proud of them for taking the initiative to engage in asking important questions and using research to help solve problems and make communities, programs and people better.”

The CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum provides a means for undergraduate students to share their research with members and friends of the OSU community; recognizes the significant contributions to research by OSU undergraduates; and facilitates exchange between students, faculty, and the public.

Students enrolled in any undergraduate degree program in College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the School of Environment and Natural Resources are invited to participate, provided they have a CGPA of 2.5 or higher and are engaged in supervised research projects in the area of their major.

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Kayla Walls

Courtney Fulton

Abby Motter

Maddie Allmän

Maddie Allman, a freshman majoring in community leadership, was inducted into the Ohio 4-H Teen Hall of Fame during the annual teen luncheon at the Ohio 4-H Conference on March 2, 2019.

During her more than 10 years as a 4-H member, Allman has developed a passion for youth development and agriculture. She has served as a camp counselor, Vinton County Junior Fairboard Member, Junior Leader and a member of the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council. She was named “The 4-H Lady” by her local newspaper for her involvement in the youth development organization.

After she completes her bachelor’s degree, where she focuses her studies in community and extension education, Allman plans to become an extension educator.

Congratulations Maddie!

Dr. Annie Specht was recently elected to serve as a senator for Ohio State’s University Senate. She is an assistant professor of agricultural communication in the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL). The University Senate is a shared governance body that helps the university function as a unified institution and is made up of faculty members, students and administrators from throughout the University.

Faculty senate members are elected from each of Ohio State’s 15 colleges by their peers, with the number of representatives proportional to the size of the college. Specht is one of seven faculty members from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

“We are pleased to have an ACEL faculty member serve in a university leadership position such as the University Senate,” said Dr. Tracy Kitchel. “Dr. Specht has represented our department on a variety of committees throughout CFAES, where she has shown her dedication toward improving our university. She will be a valuable asset as she is involved in the policies, processes, programs and solutions for issues of university.”

“I’m honored by the opportunity to represent the college, especially as a young female faculty member. I’ve been looking for ways to get involved in the broader campus community, and I’m excited to learn more about university governance over the next few years,” said Specht.

She will serve a three-year term from Autumn Semester 2019 through Spring Semester 2022.Specht is a two-time alum of Ohio State, earning bachelor degrees in English and agricultural communication in 2008 and a master’s degree in agricultural communication in 2010. She completed a doctorate in agricultural communication from Texas A&M University in 2013.

ACEL prepares communicators, educators and leaders in the food, agricultural, and environmental sciences to integrate research-based learning, practice and engagement, in ways that will advance positive changes that strengthen individuals, families and communities. For more information on the academic programs and research available in ACEL, please visit acel.osu.edu.

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Congratulations to four alumni of the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership at Ohio State.

Dr. Bob Birkenholz, Dr. Bryan Garton ’93 PhD, Chris Henney ’98 and Leah Finney Curtis ’07 were selected as recipients of alumni awards presented by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Alumni Society.

The four alumni were recognized by ACEL at a department reception and will be the guests of honor, along with eight other CFAES alumni selected for awards, at the CFAES Alumni Awards on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the Fawcett Center.