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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