NACTA Newsletter - April 2025 (Standard)

April 2025 (Standard)

NACTA President Cheryl Wachenheim's Message
NACTA Experiential Learning Webinar
NACTA Conference Hotel Information
NACTA Journal Updates
New NACTA Members
NACTA Bylaws Amendment Reminder
Renew Your NACTA Membership

NACTA Roundup with President Cheryl Wachenheim

Greetings Colleagues!

Spring has sprung!

The teaching award letters and abstract announcements have gone out. Thank you to all those submitting, nominating, and reviewing. I am in awe of the amount of effort that went into the process. Congratulations to all those accepted! If not successful this year, know your work matters. Do request and consider feedback from reviewers as you are encouraged to resubmit for our 2026 Annual Conference.

The annual Judging Conference is scheduled for April 9-12. At the time of writing this, there were 50 colleges with 736 students and 141 coaches participating. Wow! Thanks to the Judging Conference Committee and our hosting institution, West Texas A&M.

In addition to the leading abstract review efforts, the Journal Committee reported on the growing number of member submissions in the review and publication process. At the time of the March Executive Board meeting, they reported there were to be 89 active submissions, including articles and teaching tips. Your patience is appreciated as NACTA Journal becomes increasingly popular as an outlet to submit great work!

We submit our newsletter columns several weeks prior to the release date. I imagine by this point, the trip to Edmonton has been planned for many. Dozens of additional runners will be signed up for the first annual 5K and a full house of graduate students excited for the inaugural graduate student outing. Posters and oral presentations are being prepared, and students and faculty are increasingly looking forward to the coming end-of-semester activities. I wish you great peace and joy as you navigate this exciting time. 

Please reach out at any time with your suggestions, thoughts, and questions.

Respectfully yours,
Cheryl

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NACTA Experiential Learning Webinar

NACTA is excited to welcome Dr. Zhiyong "Drew" Cheng and Dr. Karla Shelnutt, both of the University of Florida, as the presenters for the fourth session of the NACTA 2025 Experiential Learning Webinar! Their presentation is titled "How to Utilize Community Partnerships in Experiential Learning," and will take place at 1:00 PM EDT Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

Dr. Zhiyong "Drew" Cheng, left, and Dr. Karla Shelnutt, right

In this session, Dr. Cheng and Dr. Shelnutt will discuss how to establish and maintain partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and government agencies to provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities. Some discussions will examine how Experiential Learning can promote cultural competence and diversity awareness through immersive experiences and interactions with communities.

For more information on the NACTA 2025 Experiential Learning Webinar Series, click here.

To register for the series, click here.

Keep an eye on your inbox for further updates and information about the 2025 NACTA Experiential Learning Webinar Series!

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NACTA 2025 Conference Hotel Information

The Westin Edmonton

10135 100 Street NW
Edmonton, AL T5J 3M5
(780)-426-3636

NACTA has secured a block of rooms at the Edmonton Westin starting at $202 CAD before taxes. The last day you can reserve your stay at this rate is May 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM EDT.

We are working to obtain the reservation link from the hotel at this time. If you want to go ahead and book your room, please call +1-(780)-426-3636 and mention that you are with the NACTA Conference. 

For more conference hotel information click here.

For more information on the NACTA 2025 Conference, and to register, click here.

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NACTA Journal Updates

Founded in 1963, The NACTA Journal  is a professional refereed journal published by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA). It is directed toward the scholarship of teaching and learning and the professional advancement of the teaching of agriculture and related disciplines. The NACTA Journal presents papers on all aspects of teaching, including methods, problems, philosophy, and rewards.  The Journal offers something for every teacher in agriculture or a related discipline. Whether traditional classroom or extension-related, its primary purpose is to strengthen professional competence in college and adult teaching.

February 2025:

• 9 Submissions Received
• 0 Published

March 2025:

• 5 Submissions Received
• 9 Published

For more information on the NACTA Journal, and to submit a manuscript or teaching tip, click here.

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New NACTA Members

NACTA has 36 new members since our last newsletter. We hope you will join us in welcoming them!

Southern
Spencer Scotten, OK
Benjamin Wilkinson, FL
Carrie Reinhardt Adams, FL
Selena Garrison, FL
Ashley Johnson, FL
Jose Anton Molina Gonzalez, FL
Prakash Bhave, NC
Christina Romagosa, FL
Molly Campbell, MS
Emma Berry, MS
Douglas Smith, TX
Felipe Aburto, TX
Breonna Davis, FL
Joseph Larkin, FL
Lori Moore, TX
Callie Smithson, TN
Kobina Danful Fanyinkah, AR
Melanie Correll, FL
Connor Brew, TX
Johnny Treichel, TX
Sungeun Cho, AL

Central
Mindy DeVries, TX
William Milashoski, KS
Justin Lewis, IL
Polly Pfeifer, KS
Jill Motschenbacher, NE
Jolene Summers, WI

Eastern
Brittany Kirby, KY
Kristine Urschel, KY
Wendy Fink, DC
Sarah Giroux, NY
Josh Kardos, VA

Western
Elia Rybolt, NM|
Matt Camper, CO
Georgia Younglove, WY
Morgan Wonderly, CA

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NACTA Bylaws Amendment Reminder

For more information, click here.

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Renew Your NACTA Membership

NACTA is the largest professional development organization that focuses specifically on the scholarship of teaching and learning in agriculture, food and natural resources. Need to renew your membership? Want to invite a colleague to join? Want to change your membership status? Visit the  membership page here . We appreciate your NACTA membership!

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