Tag Archives: Faculty

Researchers develop curriculum to improve communication skills of science majors

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Researchers at Texas A&M University and Prairie View A&M University are developing curriculum designed to strengthen the communication skills of agricultural, natural resource and food science graduates. Holli Leggette and Theresa Murphrey, faculty members in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, are developing seven modules of instruction to enhance the communication skills of Texas A&M and Prairie View A&M students as they prepare to become career-ready. “Every student who graduates from a college of agriculture across the country needs to have a basic understanding of communication… Read More →

Developing a new generation of international aid workers

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A collaborative project through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Higher Education Challenge Grant Program aims to increase the effectiveness of future international agricultural development workers through on-the-ground training and high impact experiences. Researchers from the Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications (ALEC); Sam Houston State University; and Auburn University have partnered with Christianville Foundation, Inc. in Haiti to provide graduate students the opportunity to immerse themselves into the daily struggles of Haitians. During their week overseas, students work alongside Haitians in Christianville to identify… Read More →

Experts say eye-tracking technology will revolutionize how communicators design messages for consumers

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As society becomes increasingly visual, researchers at Texas A&M are testing how eye-tracking technology can change the way advertisers and communicators tailor messages to their consumers and audiences. Tobin Redwine and Billy McKim, professors in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, say that the goal of visual communicators is to direct their audience to the most important point in everyday items, whether that is advertisements, surveys or social media applications. “Understanding how people process images, from emojis to infographics, helps us better understand how to craft… Read More →

Experts provide advice on how to handle no response in social science research

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In the world of social science research, it is important for researchers to conduct effective assessments and form competent evaluations in order to address both local and global issues of communities. But if these same researchers fail to attract usable responses from their survey audience, they are unable to provide solid solutions to real-world problems. In an article titled Handling Nonresponse in Social Science Research, faculty in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications recommend three procedures for handling nonresponse: 1) Comparing early to late respondents, 2)… Read More →

Wingenbach chosen to serve as Winrock International volunteer for USAID’s farmer-to-farmer program

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It’s been 30 years since Gary Wingenbach, professor of international agriculture in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, volunteered his time to help farmers combat soil erosion in Guatemala. Prior to his acceptance in a two-week assignment with Winrock International’s Asia Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program/Bangladesh, he had served in the U.S. Peace Corps from 1985-1987. The goal of Winrock’s F2F program is to strengthen the capacity of formal and informal Agriculture Education and Training (AET) institutions to publicize agriculture technologies and innovations, provide relevant training, conduct applied… Read More →

Texas A&M System Universities Awarded Nearly $3 Million From The National Science Foundation

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Courtesy Rosana Moreira, Office of Graduate and Professional Studies The Texas A&M University System AGEP Alliance—Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Prairie View A&M University—will receive a $2.8 million grant over 60 months from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop, implement and study a new model for advancing underrepresented minority doctoral candidates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to careers in academia. The Texas A&M University System AGEP Alliance is also funded by NSF’s Research Traineeship (NRT) Program and its Historically Black… Read More →

Cummings Recognized for Excellence in Extension

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By: Caitlin Powers Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Scott Cummings, Dr.PH., was  recognized by the American Evaluation Association by receiving the 2013 Sustained Excellence in Extension Evaluation Award. “Scott has demonstrated strong leadership and his work will make significant evaluation efforts more relevant and visible in Extension work,” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Director, Douglas Steele, Ph.D. said. Cummings’ award recognized his outstanding contributions to Extension and evaluation through his work with the Excellence in Extension effort. He is the program leader for Extension’s Organizational Development unit and associate… Read More →

Piña part of duo recognized for championing diversity

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By: Mollie Lastovica Recognized for their commitment to underrepresented populations and students, Associate Professor Manuel Piña, Ph.D. and Professor Carlos Gonzalez, Ph.D., received the 2013 Deans Outstanding Achievement Award for Diversity. Created in 2012, the Deans Outstanding Achievement Awards recognize administrators, faculty, staff and student for their efforts in bettering the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Piña has worked and taught in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications since 1974. In his 29 years in the department, he has made great strides in championing underrepresented… Read More →