Departmental Graduate Faculty

The Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications at Texas A&M University is widely recognized as among the top three departments in the nation. Faculty members in the Department provide leadership to national and international organizations within the discipline. Graduate applicants must have a major professor (advisor) to be admitted. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to come for a Prospective Student Day visit or contact faculty within your interest area to learn more about graduate student opportunities.

In the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, faculty cluster in learning communities (workgroups) based primarily on the settings where we work. Looking at their professional interests will give you an idea of secondary areas. This may help you to locate faculty members to serve as your major advisor based on your focused area of study.

• B.S., Texas A&M University; M.S., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University
• Professional interests: Extension Education; Extension Advisory Councils/Leadership; Program Development; Evaluation/Accountability
• cboleman@ag.tamu.edu, 979-845-7280

Barry L. Boyd, Associate Professor and Associate Department Head for Undergraduates and Teaching/Learning

• B.S., Texas A&M University; M.S., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University
• Professional interests: Leadership Education; Learner-Centered Instructional Design; Leadership of Volunteers and Service-learning
• b-boyd@tamu.edu, 979-862-3693

Gary E. Briers, Professor

• B.S., Texas A&M University; M.Ed., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Iowa State University
• Professional interests: Research, Measurement and Analysis; Research Design/Methodology; Teaching Methodology; Human-Animal Interactions
• g-briers@tamu.edu, 979-862-3000

Scott R. Cummings, Associate Professor, Extension Specialist, and Associate Department Head for Extension

• B.S., Texas A&M University; M.P.H., The University of Texas School of Public Health; Dr.P.H., The University of Texas School of Public Health
• Professional interests: Evaluation and Accountability; Program Development; Methods of Behavioral Change; Extension Education
• s-cummings@tamu.edu, 979-847-9388

Kim E. Dooley, Professor

•  B.S., Texas A&M University; M.Ed., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University
• Professional interests: Distance Education; Qualitative Research Methods; International Agricultural Development 
• k-dooley@tamu.edu, 979-845-6923

Chanda D. Elbert, Associate Professor 

• B.S., Southern University; M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University 
• Professional interests: Leadership and Multicultural Environments; Women in Leadership; Program Evaluation and Organizational Accountability
• celbert@tamu.edu, 979-458-2699

Julie Harlin, Associate Professor 

• B.S., Texas A&M University; M.S., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University
• Professional interests: Teacher Education; Delivery Strategies; Learner-Centered Instructional Design 
• j-harlin@tamu.edu, 979-862-3014

Alvin Larke, Jr., Professor 

• B.S., South Carolina State College; M.Ed., South Carolina State College; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia
• Professional interests: Teacher Education; Cultural Sensitivity/Diversity; Adult Education; Minority Recruitment and Retention in Agriculture
• a-larke@tamu.edu, 979-862-3008

James R. Lindner, Professor 

• B.S., Auburn University; M.B.A., Auburn University; Ph.D., The Ohio State University 
• Professional interests: Planning and Needs Assessment; Research Measurement and Analysis; Distance Education; International Agricultural Development and Education 
•  j-lindner@tamu.edu, 979-458-2701

Michael McCormick, Senior Lecturer

• B.S., Mississippi State University; J.D., University of Mississippi; M.A., St. Mary's University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University 
• Professional interests: Leadership Development and Education; Small Group Performance; Change and Organizational Development; Executive Development; Training & Evaluation 
• mmccormick@aged.tamu.edu, 979-845-2954

Lori Moore, Assistant Professor

• B.S., Texas A&M University; M.S. Texas A&M University; Ph.D. University of Florida
• Professional Interests: Collegiate Leadership Programs; Delivery Strategies; Leadership Education
• llmoore@tamu.edu, 979-845-1295

Theresa Pesl Murphrey, Assistant Professor 

• B.S., Texas A&M University; M.S. Texas A&M University; Ph.D. Texas A&M University 
• Professional interests: Learner-Centered Instructional Design; Online Learning; Technology-Enhanced Education; Curriculum Design & Delivery; Human Resource Training & Development; International Agricultural Development and Education 
• t-murphrey@tamu.edu, 979-458-2749

Tim Murphy, Associate Professor

• B.S., University of Missouri-Columbia; M.Ed., University of Missouri-Columbia; Ph.D., Texas A&M University 
• Professional interests: Technology-Assisted Learning & Teaching; Teacher Education; Research, Measurement and Analysis; Administration of Higher Education
• tmurphy@tamu.edu, 979-862-3419

Manda Rosser, Assistant Professor 

• B.S., Texas A&M University; M.S., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University
• Professional interests: Organizational and Community Leadership; Mentor and Protege Relationships
• mrosser@tamu.edu, 979-862-3015

Tracy Rutherford, Assistant Professor 

• B.S., Cornell University; M.A., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University 
• Professional interests: Agricultural Communication; Visual Communication
• trutherford@tamu.edu, 979-458-2744

Glen C. Shinn, Professor

• B.S., Oklahoma State University; M.Ed., University of Missouri-Columbia; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia
• Professional interests: Planning and Needs Assessment; Learning-Teaching Theory; Adult Education; Distance Education; International Agricultural Development and Education 
• g-shinn@tamu.edu, 979-862-3012

Douglas Starr, Professor 

• B.A., Louisiana State University; M.A., Florida State University; Ph.D., Florida State University
• Professional interests: Agricultural Communication; Media Writing; Government and Corporate Speech Writing 
• d-starr@tamu.edu, 979-458-3039

Christine Townsend, Professor 

• B.S., The Ohio State University; M.S., The Ohio State University; Ph.D., Iowa State University
• Professional interests: Delivery Strategies; Leadership Education Theory; Development of Leadership/Life Skills; Horticulture Skill Education Theory 
• leader@tamu.edu, 979-458-3705

Tom A. Andy Vestal, Professor and Extension Specialist 

• B.S., Tarleton State University; M.Ed., Texas Tech University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University 
• Professional interests: Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense, Homeland Security of U.S Agriculture and Food Infrastructure, Animal and Food Industry Communications, Organizational Communications, Extension Education 
• t-vestal@tamu.edu, 979-862-3013

Gary Wingenbach, Associate Professor

• B.S., Oregon State University; M.Ag., Oregon State University; M.A.T., Oregon State University; Ph.D., Iowa State University
• Professional interests: Agricultural Communications and Journalism; Online Research Methods; International Agricultural Development 
• g-wingenbach@tamu.edu, 979-862-1507