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UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

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UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

Connecting people with agriculture and natural resources. We also encourage our community to foster respectful and vibrant online connections.

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08/28/2026

SWIPE to find your weekend plans, and SAVE THIS guide to GNV, written for graduate students, by graduate students

AEC PhD student Ana spent the summer trying out the best places around Gainesville, and compiled the best list of where to eat, wander, thrift, and disappear on a Saturday:

🥐 Best bakeries & coffee (there are... a lot)
🌮 Where fellow students actually eat
🦇 A bat emergence experience with a killer sunset
🏞️ Springs, prairies, and a 2-hour drive to real sand
🍸 Bars, night markets & the club with the best drag shows in town
🧵Thrift shops to find your next outfit or piece to make your home in GNV that much more comfortable
🎨 Free stuff your student ID is already paying for

Have a place that didn’t make the list and you think should? Drop your faves in the comments 👇

08/25/2026

Big shoutout to Tyler Davies, AEC student and UF CALS student ambassador for Agriculture Future of America (AFA)!

Tyler traveled over summer to Raleigh-Durham, NC for the annual AFA Student Leader Meeting, hosted by BASF Agricultural Solutions US, which brought together student leaders from land-grant universities across the country to plan outreach and build momentum for AFA’s national Leaders Conference this November in Kansas City.

A Swipe-worthy moment: both UF and FAMU were represented on the student leader team this year! 🍊🐊

We love seeing our students build community, grow as leaders, and represent on a national stage.
We are proud of you, Tyler!

08/19/2026

🐾➡️📊
He started his career treating animals. Now he’s transforming how we measure research impact!

Meet Dr. Sebastian Galindo, AEC Research Associate Professor, licensed veterinarian, and proof that your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line.

Originally from Mexico City 🇲🇽, Dr. Galindo earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. His curiosity didn’t stop there. He came to UF, added a master’s in animal sciences, and found his true calling in AEC with his PhD in 2009.

Today, his work focuses on:
🔷 Mixed methods for evaluating research, teaching & Extension programs
🔷 Building a statewide toolbox to standardize how we measure impact
🔷 Coordinating AEC’s Qualitative Research Community

His collaborations stretch from the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs to the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center to UF’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.

From treating patients to shaping how an entire state measures impact — the best researchers take the road less traveled.

👉 Learn more about Dr. Galindo and our other great faculty members by clicking the link in bio!

08/17/2026

🏆HUGE congrats to Dr. Ricky Telg!
Recently named an ACE Fellow, the highest honor from the Association for Communication Excellence.
30 years teaching. Countless students shaped. One legacy that speaks for itself.
His advice for the next generation of communicators?👇
“The best communicators approach their audience not as a demographic, but as human beings.”
We couldn’t be prouder 🧡💙
📲Full story at the link in our bio

08/14/2026

🐊1909 Society 🐊

Since 1909, our department has been shaping leaders in ag education and communication.
Now you can help continue that legacy!

Give $19.09 or more annually and join a community of AEC alumni, faculty, staff and friends supporting scholarships, student internships and experiential learning opportunities 🎓🧡💙

Give today:
💳 UFGive.to/1909
📱follow the link in our bio
☎️ 1-877-351-2377

Questions about your contribution? Contact [email protected]

08/11/2026

Connecting PEOPLE to agriculture and natural resources? Now that’s VERY chic 🧡💙

08/10/2026

𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺. 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗦 𝗶𝘁 🌟

Meet Dr. Megan Cantrell, AEC faculty member, recent PhD graduate, and proof that some people return to the department that shaped them.

From student to instructional associate professor, Dr. Cantrell now teaches within our Leadership Education discipline, helping shape the next generation of ag leaders

Her biggest takeaway?
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 🌱

For more information on Dr. Cantrell, please visit: aec.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/megan-cantrell/

08/05/2026

Throwing out classroom built strategies, reeling in big opportunities 🐟

Our series continues on as we follow student Hailey who had the awesome opportunity to work with Get Fish Slapped LLC Digital Marketing throughout the summer in beautiful Sebring, Florida!

This summer, Hailey jumped head first into the world of digital marketing. Expanding on concepts and strategies built through her program with AEC, she was able to work with clients to shape brand vision, explore web design, user experience and functionality: combining creativity, strategy and adaptability— strengthening her creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability, skills that will set her apart as she continues to grow in the industry

A huge shoutout to Get Fish Slapped for providing this valuable opportunity and helping make Hailey’s summer experience such a meaningful one!

08/03/2026

As UF is quickly becoming a leader in AI education and was recently announced as the top-ranked university in readiness assessment for the AI Across the Curriculum initiative, AEC is putting that leadership into practice— equipping students with hands-on experience.

Dr. Heather Young, AEC faculty member specializing in instructional development and agricultural and natural resources communication, tackles questions surrounding ethical AI usage in academia, and utilizing Enable-AI designation from the UF AI2 Center, allowing faculty to enhance their teaching and research.

“AI doesn’t replace human expertise. It elevates it. When faculty use AI as a collaborator to innovate and enhance their course materials, and students learn to critically evaluate, challenge, and improve AI-generated content, we prepare graduates not just to use AI but to work alongside it responsibly. The true impact of AI in education is not what AI can produce, but what people learn to do with it,” says Young.

In Young’s AEC 3033c: Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences, students get hands-on experience using AI-powered models. As an exemplary status course, it allows students to explore both the benefits and shortcomings of AI while creating the kinds of documents employers and graduate programs expect.

07/29/2026

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 🌱

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the UF IFAS Gulf Coast Research & Education Center for the New Teacher Bootcamp, a day that was filled with equipping agriculture educators with keys to success in classrooms

New and aspiring teachers spent the day learning from experienced educators and industry professionals across the state, covering topics including:
💡 Breaking down standards into effective lesson plans and putting them into action
💡 Differentiation strategies that meet every learner where they are
💡 Industry certifications and career readiness
💡 Using AI and digital tools for teaching smarter
💡 Building student leaders through FFA involvement
💡 Classroom management strategies
💡 A "Boots on the Ground" panel where ambassadors tackle real- classroom questions about instruction, FFA, SAE and work-life balance

"𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿. 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀" said lead facilitator Dr. Tre Easterly

Shoutout to all our presenters and teacher ambassadors for sharing their expertise and helping grow the next generation of ag educators 🌿

Address

University Of Florida, 305 Rolfs Hall
Gainesville, FL
32611

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13523920502

Website

http://aec.ifas.ufl.edu/

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