Contact: Vanessa Beeson

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The director of Mississippi State University’s School of Human Sciences is taking on new leadership roles within the American Association of Agricultural Education.

Professor Michael Newman is serving as president-elect and will begin his term in spring 2019 as president of AAAE, a national society focused on social science scholarship in food, agriculture and natural resources. Newman also was one of two senior fellows honored recently by the AAAE’s Academy of Fellows at the organization’s annual conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

George Hopper, dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said Newman’s national recognition is a testament to his expertise and commitment to training tomorrow’s agricultural educators.

“Dr. Newman’s leadership in the School of Human Sciences has furthered the school’s mission of improving the well-being of individuals, families and communities through teaching, research and outreach,” Hopper said. “Specifically, this recognition as president-elect and senior fellow further underscores his dedication to preparing the next generation of agricultural educators, leaders and communicators.”

A professor and graduate coordinator of agricultural education, leadership and communications within the school, Newman is a 1996 recipient of the John Grisham Master Teacher Award, a tribute to classroom and instruction excellence that is named for the MSU alumnus and internationally recognized author who provided funds to endow the award. Newman joined the American Association of Agricultural Education as a student and was recognized as an outstanding young member in the 1990s. In 2016, he served as Distinguished Lecturer, keynoting the organization’s national conference.

Newman said he is most proud of joining a class of esteemed advisers and peers.

“The fellows who came before me are individuals I’ve admired and counted as mentors, so to be named a part of that group is meaningful,” Newman said. “It’s an honor because it’s an acknowledgement of my contribution to the profession over the years.”

Newman earned MSU bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural and extension education. He also holds a master’s in agricultural education from Ohio State University.

Part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, MSU’s School of Human Sciences offers majors in human development and family science; fashion design and merchandising; agricultural science; and agricultural education, leadership and communications. For more information, visit www.cals.msstate.edu or www.humansci.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.