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
- 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.
- 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
Faculty | Title | Expertise in ALEC |
---|---|---|
Mark Balschweid | ALEC Department Head/Professor |
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Lloyd Bell | Professor |
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Nathan Conner | Assistant Professor |
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Michael Farrell | Assistant Professor of Practice |
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Michael Forsberg | Assistant Professor of Practice |
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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) |
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Jamie Loizzo | Assistant Professor |
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Myunghwa (Michelle) Kang | Assistant Professor |
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Eric Knoll | Assistant Professor of Practice | Skilled and technical sciences in teacher education |
Matt Kreifels | Assistant Professor of Practice |
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Gina Matkin | Associate Professor |
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L.J. McElravy | Assistant Professor |
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Roger Terry | Professor |
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