ALEC Summer 2015 Newsletter

Four Towers Times — Summer 2015 Agricultural Communication Reinvented

This special edition spotlights the UGA Agricultural Communication BSA degree. Many changes have occurred over the past six months. We welcomed two new Assistant Professors, Dr. Jessica Holt and Dr. Abigail Borron to the department to lead the major. Drs. Borron and Holt have updated the AGCM curriculum by adding several new courses, developed a study abroad to Romania focusing on culture centered communication, and revitalized the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) student club. We are excited about the future of Agricultural Communication as we prepare leading-edge graduates that successfully engage in careers to advance the food and fiber industry. Enjoy this special edition of the Four Towers Times.

Kay Kelsey, Department Head

Welcome Dr. Abigail Borron and Dr. Jessica Holt to ALEC

Dr. Abigail Borron and Dr. Jessica Holt joined UGA, ALEC in January 2015 to lead the Agricultural Communication BSA major.

Dr. Holt earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education and Communication, from the University of Florida in 2015. She is from Plant City, Florida. Her background is in print design, photography, and journalism within the agricultural industry. She serves as the undergraduate coordinator for the AGCM major. She loves teaching and engaging with students, while implementing new and innovative teaching strategies to increase student preparedness for their careers. Dr. Holt was awarded the outstanding dissertation for Agricultural Communication by the Association for Communication Excellence in June 2015.

Dr. Abigail Borron earned a Ph.D. in Youth Development and Agricultural Education from Purdue University with an emphasis on communication with underserved audiences. Dr. Borron is from Indiana. She is passionate about culture-centric communication and social justice issues, seeking ways to give voice to underrepresented audiences in the food and fiber industry.

Study Abroad to Romania

Dr. Borron created a new study abroad program to Romania focusing on culture-centered communication. Students will live and work with families associated with Heifer International to capture the families' experience with increasing food security. Students will create a video of the family story to share with Heifer International foundation and donors.

New Agricultural Communication Curriculum

Drs. Borron and Holt have redesigned the Agricultural Communication BSA major and created eight new AGCM courses to support a focus on media skills development and agricultural policy. Students will learn technical skills such as writing, photography, photo editing, design, web strategies, and culture-centered communication. The skills will be applied to engaging the public with the food and fiber industry from a policy perspective. As a capstone experience students will engage in a domestic or international (Romania) experience to learn digital storytelling, media channel use and development, message development for culturally diverse populations, and engagement with local food systems.

Congressional Agricultural Fellows in Washington D.C.

Every year the College of Agricultural and Environmental Science selects seven high achieving students to serve as interns for United States legislative representatives. In 2015 four of the seven Ag Fellows were Agricultural Communication majors. Kelsie Bickett (AGCM 2016) is serving with David Perdue, Casey Chastain (AGCM 2017) is serving with Doug Collins, Ethan Perkins (AGCM 2017) is serving with Rick Allen, and Dowdy White (AGCM 2016) is serving with Sanford Bishop. We are very proud of our students' service with elected leaders.