College of Ag Sciences faculty, student recognized at annual NACTA conference

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A faculty member and a graduate student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences received recognition at the 71st annual North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) conference in Alberta, Canada.

Melanie Miller Foster, associate teaching professor of international agriculture and co-founder of the Global Teach Ag Network, was awarded the Global Engagement Award in the distinguished career category.

The Global Engagement Award recognizes praiseworthy engagement activities through teaching, educational research or administration. Distinguished Career Award recipients must have served 10 or more years in higher education with activities directly related to global interactions.

“It is thrilling to see Dr. Miller Foster recognized for her decades-long focus on cultivating global competence in students and educators,” said Deanna Behring, assistant dean for international programs and director for Ag Sciences Global. “Her work not only aligns with Penn State’s land-grant mission — focusing on education, applied research and engagement — but also exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking innovation essential for preparing the next generation to tackle the complex, ever-evolving challenges of today’s global agriculture system.”

Miller Foster leads the international agriculture and development graduate degree program, instructing the program’s foundational course and advising students. In this role, she teaches global competencies and coordinates international experiences for the program.

Through the Global Teach Ag Network, she empowers educators to address pressing global issues by facilitating professional development programming and learning opportunities. Additionally, Miller Foster works to advance conversations on global learning, agriculture and food security through instruction, community development and research.

Mia Sullivan, a doctoral candidate pursuing a dual-title degree in education development and in international agriculture and development, was recognized with the NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award. The award celebrates graduate students who excel as teachers in agricultural disciplines and classroom instruction.

Sullivan earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in agricultural education, leadership and extension from Tennessee State University.

She is the teacher-in-residence for the Global Teach Ag Network, making her the instructional lead for the Global Orientation to Agricultural Learning program. Sullivan directs the program to shape undergraduate agricultural education students across the country through immersive experiences.

“Mia Sullivan exemplifies the heart of a servant leader, teaching with compassion, care and unwavering kindness that uplifts every learner she encounters,” said Daniel Foster, associate professor of agricultural and extension education and co-founder of the Global Teach Ag Network. “As the network’s teacher-in-residence, this award honors not only her transformative impact on Penn State students but also her extraordinary potential to shape agricultural education for decades to come.”

Visit the NACTA website to learn more about its awards program.