AEC Faculty, Students Bring Home National AAAE Honors
By: Norman Martin
Texas Tech Universitys Department of Agricultural Education & Communications once again received top accolades in a variety of categories from the American Association for Agricultural Education. The winners were recognized on Thursday (May 24) at the organizations national meeting in Manhattan, Kansas.
Among the top honors presented at the meeting was the AAAE Distinguished Agricultural Communications Educator Award, which went to Erica Irlbeck, the Associate Dean for Outreach & Engagement within Texas Tech Universitys Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources.
Her new textbook, The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources published through XanEdu Publishing, was released earlier this year. Recent honors for Irlbeck include a national USDA Teaching & Student Engagement Award (2021) and a Chancellors Council Distinguished Teaching Award (2020).
In other action, Scott Burris, chair of Techs Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, was tapped as the AAAE 2024 Distinguished Lecturer. AAAE program officials noted, “Thank you for inspiring us with your stories and incredible wisdom. The guidance you have provided throughout your career will no doubt leave a lasting impression on the profession.”
Burris joined the Texas Tech faculty in 2005, specializing in agricultural education. He is the recipient of the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award, the Davis College Teaching Award, and the President's Excellence in Teaching Award.
Meanwhile, masters student Kyler Hardgree and Associate Professor Courtney Gibson tied for the Outstanding Research Poster at the conference, winning the top prize with dual submissions. Their research studies were titled, “Exploring College Students Perceptions of Using Generative AI to Produce Agricultural-Related Vector Images” and “Seeds of Communication: A Communications Audit of Instagram Posts Promoting the AgriStress Helpline for Texas.”
In addition, masters student Rylie Lux, Professor Courtney Meyers, and Assistant Professor Laura Fischer received the associations award for Innovative Poster. Their work was titled “Checking out the Competition: Exploring Sprout Socials Learning Features.”
Techs Department of Agricultural Education & Communications has 15 faculty members with more than 280 undergraduate students and 115 graduate students. Faculty members specialize in one of three disciplinary areas: teacher education, agricultural communications, and agricultural leadership. Masters degrees are available in agricultural education and agricultural communications, and a departmental Ph.D. program allows students to focus on any of the three areas. In addition, graduate certificates are available in agricultural leadership and agricultural communication.
CONTACT: Scott Burris, Chair, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-8689 or scott.burris@ttu.edu
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