Donavan Phoenix
Graduate Research Asst Ag Leadership Educ & Comm University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Contact
Donavan Phoenix is earning a Ph.D. in Human Sciences with a Specialization in Leadership Studies in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has a B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Education from Southwest Minnesota State University and a M.S. degree in Education with an Emphasis in Business from Fort Hays State University.
Prior to joining UNL, Donavan was a high school agricultural educator in Hershey, Nebraska and Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He enjoys being outdoors by means of hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. Donavan has a background in beekeeping, aquaculture, and livestock production, all of which contributes to his professional goals as an agricultural education teacher educator.
Research
Donavan Phoenix is working as a research and teaching assistant within the ALEC department with the Teacher Preparation faculty, under the supervision of Dr. Becky Haddad.
Donavan is passionate about preparing preservice teachers, evidenced by his research incorporating failure learning in teacher education programming. Donavan has presented at regional and national conferences, earning the honor of being selected for the Distinguished Manuscript and Outstanding Research Presentation awards at the 2025 American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE) National Conference. He has also received numerous invitations to facilitate professional development for preservice and in-service teachers, including presentations and workshops at the Nebraska Agricultural Education Association (NAEA) 2024 Ag Ed Symposium, the University of Missouri, the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) 2023 and 2024 Conventions, and the AAAE 2024 National Conference.
Donavan will begin his dissertation in Fall 2025 and graduate in May 2026.