Congratulations to Summer McLain on the successful defense of her master’s thesis “Ohio FFA State Officer Experiences with Mental Health Topics in Ohio Agricultural Education Programs.”
McLain will graduate in May with a master of science in agricultural communication, education, and leadership.
Dr. Jera Niewoehner-Green, assistant professor of community leadership, served as her advisor and Dr. Caryn Filson, assistant professor of agriscience education, served on her committee.
Congratulations to Ty Casey on the successful defense of his master’s thesis “Strategies of Motivation Teachers Can Learn from Coaches.”
Casey will graduate in May with a master of science in agricultural communication, education, and leadership.
Dr. Amanda Bowling, assistant professor of agriscience education, and Dr. Tracy Kitchel, professor of agriscience education and senior associate dean and director of faculty and staff affairs for CFAES, served as his co-advisors.
Dr. Mary Rodriguez, assistant professor of community leadership, has been elected president-elect of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) for 2021-2022.
She will take over leadership of the organization at the 2022 annual conference, which is scheduled to be held in Thessaloniki, Greece in April 2022.
AIAEE is a professional organization for agricultural and extension educators who share a common goal of strengthening agricultural and extension education programs and institutions worldwide.
Rodriguez, an alum of Texas A&M University ( BS ’08) and the University of Florida (MS ’10, PhD ’15), joined our faculty in 2015.
Congratulations to Abbey VanTyne on the successful defense of her master’s thesis, “Exploring Identity Development Among Preservice Agriscience Teachers During an Early Field Experience.”
VanTyne will graduate in May with a master of science in agricultural communication, education, and leadership.
Dr. Caryn Filson, assistant professor of agriscience education, served as her advisor and Dr. Tracy Kitchel, professor of agriscience education and senior associate dean and director of faculty and staff affairs for CFAES, served as her committee member.
VanTyne is an agricultural educator at Norwayne High School in Creston, Ohio. She is a 2016 graduate of Ohio State where she earned a bachelor of science in agriscience education.
Congratulations Abbey!!!
Congratulations to Eboni Adderley on the successful defense of her Master’s thesis “Appraisal of Backyard Gardening Intentions Among Residents on the Islands of New Providence and Grand Bahama.”
Adderley will graduate in May with a master of science in agricultural communication, education, and leadership.
Dr. Mary Rodriguez, assistant professor of community leadership, served as her advisor and Dr. Amanda Bowling, assistant professor of agriscience education, was her committee member.
Congratulations to Amy Sword on the successful defense of her master’s project “STEM Curriculum Best Practices in Selected Middle Schools.”
Amy will graduate in May with a master of science degree in agricultural communication, education, and leadership.
Dr. Jeff King, associate professor of community leadership, served as her advisor, and Dr. Emily Buck, professor of agricultural communication, served as her committee member.
Beach, Pozderac, and Shuman
Undergraduate students from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) competed in two undergraduate research forums at The Ohio State University. The University’s Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Undergraduate Research Forum were both held virtually during the first week of April.
Schelby Beach, a senior studying agricultural communication from Findlay, Ohio, participated in both undergraduate research forums with her research project “Consumers’ Perception of Ethics and Lab-Cultured Proteins.” She was mentored by Dr. Annie Specht, associate professor of agricultural communication.
Jacob Shuman, a senior studying community leadership from Chillicothe, Ohio, presented his research at the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum. For his project, “Quantifying Attributes of Drone Congregation Areas,” he was mentored by Dr. Reed Johnson, associate professor of entomology in the Department of Entomology at Ohio State.
Milan Pozderac, a senior studying agriscience education from Fredericktown, Ohio, presented his research at the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum. He was awarded second place in the social science category for his project, “Career Choice and Beliefs: Insights from Second Generation Agriculture Teachers.” He was mentored by Dr. Tracy Kitchel, professor of agriscience education and senior associate dean and director of faculty and staff affairs for CFAES.
“I’m proud of our students who completed these research projects during an unusual time of both virtual learning and research,” said Dr. Shannon Washburn, professor and chair of ACEL. “The research they completed will help them in their future careers to improve the communities, programs and people they will work with each day.”
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.
Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, currently in its 26th year, is a University-wide research forum that provides a means for undergraduate students to share their research with members and friends of the Ohio State community; recognizes the significant contributions to research by Ohio State undergraduates; and facilitates exchange between students, faculty, and the public.
Undergraduate students in ACEL study agricultural communication, agriscience education or community leadership. These three bachelor of science degrees prepare students working with youth and adults of age to promote agriculture and positive change in communities. For additional information on undergraduate in the areas of agricultural communication, education and leadership visit acel.osu.edu.
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Kolt Buchenroth is a senior studying agricultural communication with a minor in agribusiness. Originally from Kenton, Ohio, Kolt is a graduate of Kenton High School. He is one of 14 seniors from the the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership to be named an ACEL Distinguished Senior.
Why did you choose your major?
I had just started at WKTN when I met Joel Penhorwood and Dr. Buck at the Ohio FFA State Convention. I knew I liked radio and I wanted to make that my career but related it back to agriculture. Joel was graduating that year and raved about his experience as a Buckeye. When I learned I could get a degree in two of my passions, it was all over. I was dead set on agricultural communication.
Why did you choose to attend Ohio State?
I’ve wanted to attend Ohio State as long as I can remember. I don’t want to say that was the only option — because it wasn’t. I spent my early days cheering on the Buckeyes, attending Skull Sessions, and even the occasional football game. After I got older and decided I wanted to stay in agriculture and had discovered radio, Ohio State was the clear choice for me.
What classes did you enjoy the most?
This is a hard one. Dr. Buck’s spring break photography trip was such a great experience. Dr. Specht’s 4130 class taught me so much about design. Tom Stewart’s classes are always fun yet informative. Dr. Whittington’s cultural proficiency class expanded my horizon and forced me out of my comfort zone. I have also enjoyed classes in other departments like Bethany Barker’s COMM 2221 Journalism class, Paul Peloquin’s fundamentals of radio and TV production class with WOSU, and Dave Fisher’s Buckeye TV classes were all challenging, but a lot of fun too. The AgriNaturalist production course is also a BLAST!
Spring break photography trip in Nashville, Tennessee
Taking photos on the spring break photography trip.
What student organizations have you been a member of as a student?
I was the vice president of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, director of public relations and communications for FarmHouse-ATZ Fraternity, a member of Collegiate Farm Bureau, and the editor-in-chief of the AgriNaturalist Magazine.
With fraternity brother Chris Young.
What internships did you complete and how did they help you decide what you did or did not want to do after graduation?
As mentioned, it was pretty clear I wanted to be a farm broadcaster. My time at WKTN as the agriculture news director showed me station life. While farm news was my title, I did a little bit of everything. It gave me an appreciation for local journalists and now our affiliate radio stations and how they operate. I learned the tricks of the trade too. I’ll always be thankful for my friends at WKTN that gave me my start and taught me what I know.
Interning at Ohio Ag Net was a natural fit. There is no turning back now, but that gave me the real dose of what it was like to work for a statewide radio network.
What stands out as your best college memory?
This is easily joining FarmHouse Fraternity. Ohio State is a big place, especially when you come here from Small Town, USA. FarmHouse gave me fraternity brothers all in the same boat. We’re all from our different corners of the state — or the country — and we’re all trying to figure life out in the city. It’s a support system and a group of friends. We’re a family. The only thing I would’ve done differently is rushed sooner!
Why should someone else consider your major at Ohio State?
Why WOULDN’T you attend Ohio State? We have expert faculty in a highly regarded and recognized program.
What do you plan to do after graduation?
I am excited to continue my role at Ohio Ag Net and Ohio’s Country Journal after I graduate.
Ally McCurdy is a senior studying community leadership with a specialization in community and extension eduction and a double major human development and family science. She is originally from Marion, Ohio and is a graduate of Pleasant High School. She is one of 14 students to be named an ACEL Distinguished Senior for 2021.
Why did you choose your major?
I choose my major in community leadership due to my own career aspirations as well as knowing that I would get the individualized education in my major and department. I would not simply be a number in a classroom.
Why did you choose to attend Ohio State?
I actually committed to attending Ohio State before I toured campus during my senior year. I want to work as an extension agent within 4-H so why would I choose somewhere else when I can learn from the best in extension education at Ohio State
What classes did you enjoy the most?
I enjoyed many of my classes within my major including program development and evaluation with Dr. Sheer and statistics with Dr. Bowling. These were both amazing classes with amazing professors who were there for you when you needed it.
Tell us about the organizations you were involved with as a student.
Alpha Sigma Upsilon was an incredibly important part of my time at Ohio State. I have been the scholarship chair, fundraising chair and then the treasurer within this organization.
What internships did you complete and how did they help you decide what you did or did not want to do after graduation?
I did an internship with Hardin County Extension the summer after my freshman year and I did learn that I wanted to be an extension educator but also that I really enjoy the family consumer science side as well as 4-H.
What stands out as your best college memory?
I am really not sure what would be my best. There are so many, ranging from riding scooters around campus to meeting one of my best friends. There are so so many memories that I will always cherish.
Why should someone else consider your major at Ohio State?
There are so many reasons why someone should consider community leadership at Ohio State. This is a great department and major with some of the best professors who are truly there to help you achieve your goals.
Brenna Loxley is a senior studying agriscience education with a minor in production agriculture. Originally from Arcanum, Ohio, Brenna is a graduate of Arcanum High School. She is one of 14 seniors from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership to be selected as an ACEL Distinguished Seniors.
Why did you choose your major?
I chose my major because I knew I wanted to be involved in agriculture but I also really enjoy working with youth and knew the opportunities agricultural programs offered.
Why did you choose to attend Ohio State?
Coming from a family of die-hard Buckeyes, I knew I should at least consider Ohio State. I came to visit my brother during his time on campus and knew that this would be the place for me.
What classes did you enjoy the most?
I really loved my teaching methods and community leadership courses, as well as the military history course I took for a general education credit.
What student organizations have you been involved in as a student?
Agriculture Education Society (recruitment chair and vice-president)
Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority (Founder’s Day chair)
What internships and field experience did you complete?
I was a field scout for Harvestland Co-op, a GrownNextGen ambassador (Ohio Soybean Association), and then an Urban Farm Camp Counselor at Sunbury Urban Farm.
Being a field scout got me super interested in agronomy and now it is something I enjoy even more teaching students. Being a GNG ambassador and working as a camp counselor just reassured me that educating others was something I loved to do!
What stands out as your best college memory?
The last night I was in Nicaragua on the first-year student education abroad program, we as a class got pizza at the hotel. Just sitting there and reflecting on our trip after finishing our first semester of college was such a turning point for me in my college career. I knew then that Ohio State was home and that I had many great opportunities ahead of me.
Why should someone else consider your major at Ohio State?
It’s perfect for people who don’t only want to teach in schools, but if you really care about educating the public about agriculture. There are so many components of the major and we truly get experience in all aspects, not only teaching in schools.
What do you plan to do after graduation?
I plan to either attend grad school to earn my master’s degree in agricultural education or jump straight into teaching!