Research & Extension

The Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication works closely with Nebraska Extension and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Agricultural Research Division to bring expertise from social science disciplines to enhancing the lives of Nebraskans everywhere. ALEC faculty and staff seek to provide leadership in developing teachers, leaders, and communicators for the next generation. Faculty do this specifically in the following areas:

Formal Research Projects

Five year approved projects:

Social media and the role of cultural competence in development of students' communication competencies about ag and natural resources issues -  Dr. Gina Matkin 

Goals/Objectives:

• Investigate the determinants of small family farmers' entrepreneurial characteristics of ESE and EA toward agri-tourism business that lead them to participate in value-added, agritourism businesses.
• Determine the influence of small family farm owners' or operators' entrepreneurial characteristics, business contextual factors, interpersonal factors, and personal factors on their participation in agri-tourism entrepreneurial activities.
• Explore the constraints and facilitators of agri-tourism businesses that are perceived by small family farmers.

Sustaining Small Family Farms in Rural Areas Through Agri-tourism: Determinants of Entrepreneurial Characteristics of Small Family Farms -  Dr. Myunghwa Kang

Goals/Objectives:

• Determine the specific issues that are most relevant for students and the field in ANRE.
• Determine the relationship between students' levels of cultural competence (using the Intercultural Development Inventory) and their abilities to conceptualize and communicate perspectives (using content analysis from online content).
• Develop and implement curriculum around relevant ANRE issues that is delivered and assessed using social and digital media technologies.
• Assess changes in student cultural competence (quantitative) and abilities to conceptualize and communicate perspectives (qualitative).
• Utilize findings from both quantitative and qualitative aspects of this project to develop an assessment for cultural competence that focuses on issues and experiences relevant to ANRE.
• Utilize findings from the qualitative aspect of this project to develop a protocol for assessing student "voice" and abilities to articulate issues from multiple perspectives.

Formal Extension Activities

• Community Leadership Development -  Dr. Lindsay Hastings  &  Dr. L.J. McElravy
• Youth Leadership Development -  Dr. L.J. McElravy  &  Dr. Lindsay Hastings
• Social Media & New Media Uses in Extension -  Dr. Jamie Loizzo
• Teaching and Learning in Non-Formal Settings -  Dr. Nathan Conner
• Public understanding of science
• Communicating science information to consumer audiences
• Public relations and issues management in agriculture and natural resources
• Scholarship of teaching and learning

Research Areas of Expertise in ALEC

Faculty	Title	Expertise in ALEC
Mark Balschweid	ALEC Department Head/Professor	Curriculum development International program development Extension program planning Teacher development
Lloyd Bell	Professor	Teaching methodology Program planning Distance learning Curriculum development
Nathan Conner	Assistant Professor	Teaching methodology Science literacy Globalization of school based agricultural education Teacher preparation
Michael Farrell	Assistant Professor of Practice	Advanced documentary development Executive producer
Michael Forsberg	Assistant Professor of Practice	Time-lapse photography Conservation photography
Mary Garbacz	Assistant Professor of Practice	Communication of complex science with clarity, accuracy and objectivity to meet the needs of specific audiences
Lindsay Hastings	Clifton Professor in Mentoring Research and Director, Nebraska Human Resources Institute (NHRI)	Strengths-based leadership development (youth and adults) Development and delivery of leadership mentoring programs Assessment and evaluation of generativity in leadership contexts Implementation, assessment and evaluation of youth engagement in community development
Jamie Loizzo	Assistant Professor	Mobile and multimedia communication and journalism Radio and television production Informal/non-formal science communication and education Learning design and technology with specific interests in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) Internet-based and arts-based qualitative research methods
Myunghwa (Michelle) Kang	Assistant Professor	Hospitality and tourism marketing Use of information technology and social media for marketing Destination marketing and promotion Tourism development and entrepreneurship
Eric Knoll	Assistant Professor of Practice	Skilled and technical sciences in teacher education
Matt Kreifels	Assistant Professor of Practice	Teaching and learning Beginning teacher induction
Gina Matkin	Associate Professor	Cultural competence assessment and development Leadership theory and leader/leadership development Graduate student education and development Training and course development
L.J. McElravy	Assistant Professor	Youth leadership and civic engagement/service-learning Leadership assessment and measurement Positive psychology and leadership development Team-based problem solving fostering creativity and innovation
Roger Terry	Professor	Distance learning Extension/community development Technology leadership and planning Training and course development