Wordmark for the College of Agriculture at Iowa State University

3/29/06

Contacts:
Levon Esters, Agricultural Education and Studies, (515) 294-0897, lte@iastate.edu
Barbara McBreen, Communications Service, (515) 294-0707, barbmc@iastate.edu
Editor's note: Photos available by contacting Barbara McBreen

IOWA STATE PROFESSOR NAMED TO NATIONAL COMMITTTEE TO PROMOTE AG AND SCIENCE

AMES, Iowa -- Levon Esters, Iowa State University assistant professor in agricultural education and studies, has been appointed to a national committee to organize a leadership summit focused on helping universities attract, retain and prepare students for careers in agriculture and science.

Esters was selected by the National Academies Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources based on his expertise in career development. His research focuses on identifying factors that influence the career choices of students enrolled in secondary and post-secondary agriculture programs.

"This is an excellent opportunity to work with educational leaders in preparing and attracting students into the agricultural sciences," Esters said.

The five-year outlook for agricultural graduates indicates that there are more jobs than graduates. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, there will be 52,000 job openings related to agriculture, food and the natural sciences every year for the next five years, an annual shortage of 2,700 graduates.

To encourage communications among educational leaders the committee will organize a two-day summit to be held Oct. 3-5 in Washington, D.C. The summit will provide leaders in education, industry and research an opportunity to work together to develop solutions and strategies to improve undergraduate education.

The committee's work is supported by the U.S.D.A., W.K. Kellogg Foundation, National Science Foundation, National Farm Foundation and the American Farm Bureau Foundation.

Esters started teaching at Iowa State in 2004. He received his master's degree from North Carolina A&T State University in agricultural education in 2000 and his doctorate degree from Penn State University in agricultural and extension education in 2003.
The family of Josef F. Schuler, an ISU alumnus, created the fellowships, which are awarded annually. Schuler, a retired corn breeder, earned master’s and doctorate degrees in agronomy from Iowa State in 1952 and 1954.
News Releases Agriculture in Action Ag Online Communications Skills Home