Leising receives AAAE award

Leising, Oklahoma State University College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources assistant director for international programs in agricultural and academic program support, has been an active member of the AAAE for more than 30 years and served as a past president of the association. He has advised, taught and mentored hundreds of agricultural education teachers in three states – Oklahoma, California and Iowa.

“Dr. Leising has demonstrated exemplary teaching, scholarship, leadership and service in agricultural education at Iowa State University, the University of California- Davis and OSU,” said Craig Edwards, Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership professor and director of student teaching. “His scope of work has been impactful at the state, national and international levels.”

Leising provided leadership and served as the supervisor in charge of teacher education in agriculture at the UC-Davis and he served as the administrative head of the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership at OSU from 1995 – 2007. This department enrolls approximately 350 undergraduate students in three majors: agricultural education, teacher education; agricultural communications and agricultural leadership.

Currently, as assistant director for CASNR’s International Programs, he provides leadership for a newly formed masters of agriculture degree with an option in international agriculture. He also coordinates the student outcomes assessment for CASNR, which as a college includes more than 2,000 students.

Leising has focused his research for many years on the topic of agricultural literacy which culminated in development of the Food and Fiber Systems Literacy Network Framework. Recently, he provided administrative leadership and technical expertise for the agricultural education component of Math-in-CTE research study funded by the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education.

“Findings from both investigations added significantly to our profession’s peer-refereed literature base regarding student learning and achievement,” Edwards said. “A dissertation and journal article derived from the latter study received the highest recognitions that the AAAE can bestow. Being named an AAAE Fellow is truly a career achievement award, one reserved for only those members of the profession who have made a long term and sustained impact on agricultural education.  Dr. Leising is very deserving of the recognition. ”

Leising received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Nebraska and his master’s and doctorate in agricultural education from Iowa State University.

Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.

Katie L. Reim
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
140 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
405-744-6792 (Phone)
405-744-5739 (Fax)
katie.reim@okstate.edu