Laura Fischer, an assistant professor within Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, has been named to the national American Association for Agricultural Education’s Leadership Academy. Designed for mid-career faculty in AAAE, the 16-member program is aimed at members who are motivated and prepared to provide effective leadership in officer, committee and special projects.
“Being selected for the AAAE Leadership Academy is an incredible opportunity to develop new leadership skills and strengthen collaborative networks that will benefit not only my own growth but also the CATT Center, our department, the Davis Colleges, and the university as a whole,” Fischer said. CATT is short for the Center for Agriscience Communications at Texas Tech.
The program will help advance agricultural communications by fostering connections and innovative ideas that will elevate research, teaching, and outreach efforts across Davis College, the industries the college serves, and beyond, she added.
The newly named AAAE Leadership Academy members will begin their experience at the upcoming 2025 National AAAE Conference in Lubbock this May. “We’ll be using the conference as a learning laboratory by providing assignments before the conference and unpacking those assignments at the completion of the conference,” said Tracy Kitchel, senior associate dean within Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural &Environmental Sciences.
Other members of the AAAE Leadership Academy Cohort III include:
- Kalynn Baldock | Eastern New Mexico University
- Amanda Bowling | Ohio State University
- Michelle Burrows |Utah State University
- Cassandra Cox | University of Arkansas
- Christopher Eck |Oklahoma State University
- Daniel Foster |The Pennsylvania State University
- Jessica Holt | University of Georgia
- Sarah LaRose | Purdue University
- O.P. McCubbins | Mississippi State University
- Carley Morrison | Mississippi State University
- Chaney Mosley | Middle Tennessee State University
- Justin Pulley | Tarleton State University
- Shuyang Qu | Iowa State University
- Kasee Smith | University of Idaho
- Tyson Sorensen | Utah State University
An expert in strategic communication of agricultural science information, Fischer joined the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources faculty in 2021. The Florida native indicated strategic communication is a dynamic approach that emphasizes understanding audience perceptions toward topics and developing key messages that are tailored to the needs of an audience.
Her line of inquiry examines how individuals form opinions about agricultural sciences, and the types of messages that can be used to inform and educate the public about agricultural science and natural resources. Fischer is part of a multi-university research team receiving a $296,000 grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture aimed at developing and implementing curriculum to enhance undergraduate research opportunities in agricultural communications.
Prior to joining Texas Tech, Fischer served as an assistant professor within the University of Kentucky’s Department of Integrated Strategic Communication. Her bachelor's degree in animal science and her master’s degree in agricultural education and communication are from the University of Florida. Her doctorate in agricultural communications and education is from Texas Tech.
Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education & Communications has approximately 15 faculty members with 285 undergraduate students and 103 graduate students. Faculty members within the department specialize in one of three disciplinary areas: Teacher Education, Agricultural Communications, and Agricultural Leadership. Master’s degrees are available in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Communications. A departmental Ph.D. program allows students to focus on any of the three areas, and an online Ed.D. program allows for continuing education of place-bound, mid-career professionals.
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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