Faculty

The faculty of the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech are committed to preparing students for success in professions that include formal and non-formal teaching and learning in agriculture, as well as skills for leading agricultural organizations and communities. 

Thomas G. Archibald
 Associate Professor
Executive Director CIRED

Austin Council
Collegiate Assistant Professor
Director, Leadership and Social Change Minor

Loy Van Crowder
Professor

Tiffany Drape
Assistant Professor

Roberto Franco
AgrAbility Virginia Coordinator

Curtis R. Friedel
Associate Professor
Director and Co-Founder, Center for Cooperative Problem Solving (CCPS)

Gangseok "Chris" Hur
Research Associate

Eric K. Kaufman
Professor and Associate Department Head

Lia Kelinsky-Jones
Research Assistant Professor

Pratyoosh Kashyap
Postdoctoral Associate

Christian Mariger
Instructor

Mikel Manchester
Associate Specialist

Kate McCain
Collegiate Assistant Professor in Leadership

Brett Milliken
Collegiate Assistant Professor
Director, Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture

Roshan Nayak
Assistant Professor

Kim L. Niewolny
Professor, Graduate Program Director
Director, Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program
Director, Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation

Jean Parrella
Assistant Professor
Life Sciences Communications

Rick Rudd
Professor and Community Viability Chair
Provost Residential Fellow

Tracy Rutherford
Professor and Department Head

Hannah H. Scherer
Associate Professor, Extension Specialist

Megan M. Seibel
Director, Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR)
Director and Co-Founder, Center for Cooperative Problem Solving (CCPS)
Senior Extension Specialist

Hannah M. Sunderman
Assistant Professor

Katie Trozzo
Program Associate

Crystal Tyler-Mackey
Extension Leader, Inclusion and Diversity
Senior Extension Specialist

Jerald Walz
Collegiate Assistant Professor

Donna Westfall-Rudd
Professor, Undergraduate Programs Director