Master of Agriculture (M.Agr), Teacher Development Graduate Assistantships

Master of Agriculture (M.Agr), Teacher Development Graduate Assistantships

The Agricultural Education program in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at Colorado State University is recruiting two to three master’s-level graduate assistants. These assistantships are embedded within the Agricultural Education program’s  CAM’s Ag Academy, a one-of-a-kind agricultural literacy program, and offer a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of research, innovation, and public engagement. Graduate assistants will help design, deliver, and evaluate cutting-edge agricultural literacy experiences that engage youth and public audiences in meaningful conversations about food systems, sustainability, and agriculture’s “wicked problems.”

Selected students will receive advanced, hands-on training in:

• Agricultural literacy research and program evaluation
• Curriculum and instructional design using problem-based learning (PBL)
• Formal and non-formal agricultural education pedagogies for diverse urban and rural audiences
• Development of scalable, evidence-based outreach models with scholarly impact

Graduate assistants will contribute to high-impact, publishable research and create innovative programs that reach thousands of Coloradans each year.

Graduate assistants will work across multiple, high-visibility learning spaces, including:

• Nutrien Agricultural Science Building (Fort Collins, CO)
• The CoBank Center for Ag Education (Fort Collins, CO)
• The CSU Spur campus, a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art public engagement and research facility (Denver, CO)
• Local communities throughout Colorado, including county fairs, youth programs, and statewide outreach events

Master’s-level graduate assistants will work closely with Agricultural Education faculty across teaching, research, and extension/outreach, with a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week. Responsibilities include:

• Assisting with undergraduate agricultural education courses (fall and spring)
• Supporting agricultural literacy research and program evaluation
• Support outreach and engagement with Colorado FFA such as state CDE/ LDE contests, Tagged to Teach Ag events
• Support College level leadership initiatives
• Designing and facilitating high-impact, educational experiences for diverse audiences
• Co-developing a summer PBL camp focused on dissecting “wicked issues” in agriculture
• Supporting outreach programming at county fairs and public events statewide
• Contributing to CSU Ag Adventure at the National Western Stock Show, Colorado’s largest agricultural literacy education exhibit
• Presenting innovative and scholarly work at professional conferences in agricultural education, research, and extension
• Opportunities to earn a post bachelors Colorado educational license and/or certificate in Extension education

Master’s graduate assistants receive a competitive monthly stipend, tuition coverage, and student insurance. This is a 12-month appointment, subject to annual renewal based on funding availability and satisfactory performance.

Qualifications for Master’s Assistantships

Successful candidates must be admitted to the Master of Agriculture- Teacher Development program. A bachelor’s degree (minimum GPA 3.00) is required, preferably in agricultural leadership, agricultural education, agricultural and extension education, extension education, agricultural communications, or a similar field. However, candidates from other disciplines will be considered based on interest and educational goals

Sincerely,

Jenny Bennett, Ph.D

Assistant Professor, Agricultural Education

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University

[email protected]

920 491 0373