Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership

10/22/2026

Want to take the next step in your education? Applications for all our in-person graduate programs are open for the 2027-28 school year:

🎓 Master of Science: Students who earn their MS will have the opportunity to take the knowledge and skills they learned in undergrad to the next level by specializing in Agricultural Communication, Agricultural Education, Community and Extension Education, International Development, or Leadership.

🎓 Master of Education: The M.Ed. program helps qualified candidates earn teaching licensure in Ohio. The program can be completed in four or five semesters and includes student teaching.

🎓 Ph.D.: Students who have completed a master's degree in ACEL or a related field can apply to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program. Ph.D. students will complete core courses in theory and research and can specialize in Agricultural Communication, Agricultural Education, Community and Extension Education, International Development, or Leadership.

Applications close on December 1.

10/22/2026

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

10/20/2026

Do you know an ACEL alumnus who has made a big impact in their career or community? We want to know about them! Our Alumni Board is accepting nominations for the 2027 ACEL Alumni Awards until November 15.

We are looking for alumni who are:

⭐ Exceptional mentors to students for the Mentor of Students Award

⭐ Doing outstanding work and are currently under 34 years old for the Young Alumni Award

⭐ Worthy of recognition for their personal and professional achievements for the Distinguished Alumni Award

Learn more about the award categories and how to make a nomination by scanning the code or clicking the link below ⬇️

10/13/2026

Congratulations to our Ph.D. students who presented research at the North Central Region – American Association of Agricultural Education conference in Urbana-Champaign, IL last week.

Ashley Thompson presented "Examining Supports and Barriers Among First-Year College of Agriculture Students" and Kate McHale presented "Documenting Impact in Extension Programs: Insights from a Systemic Review of Journal of Extension Evaluation Studies"

10/09/2026

This week, our faculty and students welcomed back three ACEL alumni who were honored at the 2026 CFAES Alumni awards for their outstanding professional accomplishments and commitment to the college.

🏆 Dena Wuebker (BS ’94, Agricultural Education) received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

🏆 Adam Sharp (BS '94, Agricultural Communication) received the Meritorious Service Award.

🏆 Brianna Smith (BS '18, Agricultural Communication) received the Young Professional Achievement Award.

Congratulations to our incredible alumni!

10/09/2026

In honor of National 4-H Week, we are celebrating some of our ACEL Buckeyes who got a start in 4-H. Today's student spotlight is Adrianna Meyer, a senior from Swaton, Ohio. Adrianna is majoring in Community Leadership with a specialization in community and extension education.

During her time with Henry County 4-H, Adrianna was part of the county and state Junior Fair Board, Junior Leadership, Advisory Council, camp counselor, Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council, as well as county fair royalty. She has also been inducted into the Ohio 4-H Teen Hall of Fame, served as a collegiate facilitator at the National 4-H Conference, and received a Clock Trophy at the Ohio State Fair.

"4-H gave me the foundation of confidence that I needed to explore opportunities in college and in life, leading me to out of state internships, traveling for conferences, and having the skills to network with professionals and peers from across the country," Adrianna said.

10/08/2026

In honor of National 4-H Week, we are celebrating some of our ACEL Buckeyes who got a start in 4-H. This afternoon's student spotlight is Liliana Phillips, a senior studying Agricultural Communication from Sidney, Ohio.

Liliana received multiple accolades throughout her time in 4-H for her market chicken and pygmy goat showmanship and her creative writing and scrapbooking projects. She won beginner showmanship her first year showing chickens and was awarded the Shelby County Outstanding 4-H'er Award in 2024.

"My favorite thing about 4-H was the community that it created for me in Shelby County," Liliana Phillips said. "4-H camp and showing livestock connected me with people that became some of my best friends for life."

10/08/2026

In honor of National 4-H Week, we are celebrating some of our ACEL Buckeyes who got a start in 4-H. This morning's student spotlight is Amy Michaels, an ACEL graduate student from Burgoon, Ohio.

During her time as a member of the Busy Beavers 4-H Club, Amy was involved with Fair Royalty, Junior Leadership, Junior Fair Board, camp counseling, MXC (Making eXtreme Counselors), and CARTEENS. One of her favorite 4-H memories is spending time with friends in the beef barn at the Sandusky County Fair.

Her early experiences inspired her to pursue a career with Ohio 4-H, where she now helps youth find their spark in both traditional and non-traditional 4-H programs.