Edgar Receives National Awards From Agricultural Communications Organizations

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Leslie Edgar received national awards from ACE and NACTA in June.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Leslie Edgar, an associate professor in the agricultural and extension education department of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, has been honored by two national organizations for teaching and research in agricultural communications.

Edgar is the winner of the Teacher Fellow Award by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture organization and is the recipient of the Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences Award of Excellence for Research.

Edgar received the NACTA award for teaching at the annual conference held at Virginia Tech University in June. The award recognizes advancement in classroom teaching, including teaching methods, philosophies and styles of instruction.

She received the ACE award for research at a conference in June in Indianapolis. The award acknowledges excellence in the special interest group area as well as leadership and involvement in ACE.

Edgar has earned 21 awards for teaching and scholarly activities, and her research has had an impact regionally, nationally and internationally. She has authored or co-authored 24 research articles with 18 focused on teaching or teaching innovations.

An ACE member since 2006, Edgar has served as chair of ACE’s international special interest group and provided leadership in its mission to expand the international scope and impact of the organization. She also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Communications and has been a reviewer of ACE research papers. She earned the ACE International Award of Excellence in 2011 and was the 2007 ACE Doctoral Dissertation Proposal award winner.

Edgar received her bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2000 and her master’s degree in agriculture systems, technology and education in 2002, both from Utah State University. She earned her doctorate in agricultural leadership, education and communications from Texas A&M University in 2007.

She has served as co-adviser to the Bumpers College branch of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow since 2007, served on the university’s Academic Advising Council and chaired the Bumpers College Curriculum Committee.

Edgar typically teaches specialized and advanced communications courses for upper level and graduate agriculture students. She has secured $936,187.16 in research and teaching support from the federal government and private foundations.

Edgar received the John W. White Outstanding Teaching Award in 2013, one of the highest teaching recognitions at the university. She also received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Teaching Award of Merit in 2013.

Edgar has been a consistent contributor to curriculum improvement. Over the past six years, she has developed 15 courses in agricultural communications and education, and converted six courses for asynchronous delivery. She has provided leadership for the department to expand the agricultural communications core curriculum with the creation of an agricultural communications minor.

In 2012, she initiated an international student exchange and internship program with the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research and the University of Ghent. The program has provided an opportunity for 16 students in the Bumpers College to work directly with research and communications experts, and to experience the Belgian culture. The program has been featured as an exemplary example of a study abroad experience in the college.

“I believe excellence in teaching means teaching beyond mere acquisition of subject matter by the students,” said Edgar. “Students must be provided an opportunity to practice what they have learned and then analyze and evaluate their own performance.”

In many of Edgar’s courses, students work directly with a client to produce advertising, public relations and/or marketing material to improve a company’s visibility, branding and profitability.

The Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences is an international association of communicators, educators and information technologists. The organization offers professional development and networking for individuals who share knowledge about agriculture, natural resources, and life and human sciences.

The North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture organization is a professional society that focuses on promoting, recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching agriculture and related areas at the post-secondary level in North America. Members are from two- and four-year colleges, and teach agriculture and related subjects.