Ohio State educator honored with national early-career teaching award

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Amanda Bowling, associate professor and honors coordinator in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL), has been named a recipient of the prestigious early-career teaching award by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU).

The award, which includes recognition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, honors her outstanding contributions to teaching and student success. Bowling was honored Nov. 10 by the Washington, D.C.-based research, policy, and advocacy organization at their annual meeting.

Bowling, who joined CFAES in 2017, was recognized for her innovative and student-centered teaching methods. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including teaching methods in agriscience education and research methods and design, while also supervising student teachers and advising students.

"To be recognized at the national level by two outstanding organizations such as APLU and USDA is a true honor," Bowling said. "I feel this award reflects the amount of dedication and care I put into crafting a student experience where they feel supported, engaged, and motivated."

Bowling said her teaching philosophy is rooted in understanding her students' unique needs, motivations, and experiences. She integrates these insights into her classes, employing a variety of teaching strategies tailored to her students' learning preferences and goals.

"I believe that an effective teacher lets their students' needs, motivations, and experiences dictate their pedagogical decisions," Bowling said. "Much of my research focuses on youth motivation, teaching, and learning, and I use these findings to enhance student learning."

Her approach is informed by a diverse career spanning 17 years in middle school, high school, and higher education. Bowling credits her success to the lessons learned from her students and the mentorship of exceptional agricultural education professors she encountered during her studies at the University of Missouri, where she earned her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in agricultural education and leadership.

"As a college, we have a strong record of faculty earning national and top university teaching recognition like the recognition Dr. Bowling received," said Tracy Kitchel, CFAES senior associate dean and director of faculty and staff affairs.

"Dr. Bowling is an exemplar of what an impactful teacher can look like for other early career faculty. We could not be prouder of her," Kitchel said.