MISSISSIPPI STATE – Jacquelyn Deeds, agricultural information and education professor at Mississippi State University, was elected senior fellow of the American Association of Agricultural Education at the organization’s recent annual meeting.

The American Association for Agricultural Education, or AAAE, is dedicated to promoting the teaching and learning of agriculture. Becoming a senior fellow is the highest level of achievement within the organization. Her peers nominated Deeds for this honor because of her dedication to the field, good standing in the profession, and her involvement on various boards and committees.

Deeds has taught undergraduate and graduate classes in MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since 1985. She coordinates the graduate program and supervises student teaching and field experiences.

“Dr. Deeds has been a trail blazer and a role model in the agricultural education profession,” said Walter Taylor, assistant dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “She has distinguished herself in the department, the college, and the university because of her zeal for agricultural education, teacher education, and the role of women in agriculture.”

A native of Oregon, Deeds was the first woman to teach high school agriculture in her home state, and she became the first female president of the Oregon Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association. Deeds also served as the first female officer and president of the AAAE.

“I very much appreciate the faculty here nominating me for this award,” Deeds said. “I have dedicated my professional career to agricultural education, and it is nice to have that dedication recognized.”

Deeds received her bachelor’s and master’s of science from Oregon State University. She earned her doctorate at The Ohio State University before beginning her teaching career at MSU. Deeds has held many positions within professional organizations, including being named to the National FFA board of directors.

Writer: Karen Templeton