UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Exceptional educators in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have been honored with the college’s 2025 teaching awards, recognizing their impact in and out of the classroom.
“Our faculty teaching award winners exemplify the very best of our college,” said Elizabeth Karcher, associate dean for undergraduate education. “Their dedication to the college’s teaching mission and to the success of our students is truly exceptional. Through their creativity, passion and commitment, they create meaningful learning experiences that shape our students’ futures. We are grateful for the excellence they bring to our college and the inspiration they provide to both colleagues and students.”
Recipients of the college’s Community of Teaching Excellence Award — which celebrates educators for outstanding teaching — are recognized for their commitment to and passion for students, mentorship to others, and innovative teaching pedagogies.
This year’s recipients were Jason Keagy, assistant research professor of wildlife behavioral ecology; Daniel Foster, associate professor of agricultural and extension education; Jennifer Koehl, assistant teaching professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences and coordinator of the One Health minor; and Josephine Wee, associate professor of food science.
Jody Kull, assistant teaching professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences, and Veronica Roman-Reyna, assistant professor of plant pathology, received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Teaching Award of Merit. The award acknowledges effective teaching, innovative methods, student engagement and scholarly activities in agriculture.
Justin Brown, associate teaching professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences, received the Paul R. and Joan M. Shellenberger Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. The award recognizes outstanding commitment to the students and teaching programs within the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and the college.
Keagy is in his sixth year in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, where he teaches two upper-level undergraduate courses and a graduate course. According to his nominators, he consistently demonstrates high teaching standards, availability to students, creativity in the classroom and a strong ability to adapt to feedback. Keagy said his teaching philosophy centers on building deductive reasoning and metacognition skills, incorporating experiential learning and fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Foster has taught a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, including required courses in the agricultural and extension education major that prepare students to become secondary school agricultural educators. Nominators said student evaluations consistently reflect high praise for Foster’s enthusiasm, positivity, supportiveness and expertise. Foster’s impact extends beyond the classroom: He has advised more than a dozen undergraduate students annually, guiding many through the rigorous Pennsylvania Teacher Certification process, where his mentoring is critical to their success.
Colleagues praised Koehl for revitalizing the One Health minor and creating an inclusive first-year seminar that builds collaboration, ethical responsibility and interdisciplinary problem-solving. She stays current in her field to deliver up-to-date content in her courses, and students noted that these topics appear in veterinary school interviews. Those nominating her for the award noted that, through a partnership with the Office of Access and Equity to create inclusive materials, Koehl provides a classroom grounded in integrity, community and discovery.
Wee has played a key role in developing two required undergraduate courses — Food Product Design and Food Laws and Regulations. She created both courses, piloted them successfully and secured approval for their permanent adoption. Beyond her teaching, nominators said that Wee is a strong advocate for students, serving as chair of the undergraduate program committee, overseeing program assessment, co-advising the student Food Science Club and the Product Development Competition team, and mentoring undergraduates conducting research in her lab.
Colleagues noted that Kull uses student-centered methods to make complex veterinary and biomedical concepts clear and memorable. Students consistently praise her lectures as engaging and approachable. Beyond the classroom, she creates impactful experiential learning opportunities — from beef quality assurance training to shadowing at food pantries and wastewater management facilities — that immerse students in real-world veterinary practice. Nominators said her ability to connect students with the One Health continuum has inspired many to pursue advanced study and careers in the field.
Roman-Reyna explained that her teaching philosophy centers on fostering critical thinking, creativity, intellectual independence and self-confidence. She said she views the classroom as an inclusive, collaborative space in which students and instructors exchange ideas, emphasizing understanding over memorization. In her courses, she prioritizes clarity, engagement, adaptability and relevance, designing and continuously refining her teaching to make complex agricultural and life science concepts accessible, meaningful and engaging.
Nominators said Brown is known for improving student experience, whether creating new course materials, mentoring independent projects or adapting instruction for diverse learners. In student surveys, many students noted that Brown makes them a priority and fosters a classroom culture of trust and enthusiasm. His colleagues pointed out that a hallmark of his teaching in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences 421: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy is his innovative use of technology, which makes complex material accessible and has become a model for the department.