USDA honors Texas A&M AgriLife faculty with national teaching awards  

Two faculty members from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences received national teaching award honors for their commitment to students and academic excellence during the 2024 Association of Public Land-grant Universities, APLU, annual meeting.

The APLU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture honor public university faculty with national teaching awards recognizing excellence in agricultural sciences teaching and student engagement.

Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman, Ph.D., instructional associate professor in the Department of Entomology, was one of two recipients in the national U.S. Department of Agriculture Excellence Teaching and Student Engagement category. Sushil Paudyal, Ph.D, assistant professor of dairy science in the Department of Animal Science, received one of the two awards in the early career category.

These national teaching awards have been presented annually since 1992 to recognize outstanding college professors of agriculture, natural resources, veterinary and human sciences. Recipients are selected from a competitive pool of exceptional candidates nominated by their peers and administrators.   

Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, praised Gillett-Kaufman and Paudyal for their ability to engage with students and lead initiatives directed at learning development.

“Jennifer has made an indelible mark as an educator and mentor. She’s an innovator in how we deliver quality coursework and instruction,” Savell said. “Sushil has quickly been making his mark around Texas A&M University and beyond. This year, he won the Association of Former Student’s College Level Teaching Award and is well known as an international leader in animal science and dairy science. We should all recognize and celebrate their commitment to excellence and dedication to learning.”

Teaching awards recognize outstanding work with students

As described in the APLU award announcement, Gillett-Kaufman includes writing exercises, peer reviews and team or group work in all her courses, including her class “Insects in Human Society,” which consistently has 250-300 students each semester.

She has developed curricula that encourage students to explore agricultural topics with a worldview while improving their professional skills. She works to get students out of their comfort zone and asks them to think critically about how their learning fits into the big picture of their lives.  

Gillett-Kaufman also developed and delivered a virtual exchange internship with Zamorano University in Honduras, allowing place-bound students at both universities the opportunity to build their grant-writing skills, global competencies and networks.

“It is more than just an award for me; it is an award for everyone who has mentored and supported me on this journey,” she said. “We have so many amazing instructors here at Texas A&M and around the nation, and I know many of them are doing such amazing work that it is hard to truly articulate what this recognition means to me.”

Paudyal emphasizes engaging students with producers and industry groups to enhance education.

When he first joined the Department of Animal Science in 2019, he said his plan was to rebuild the dairy course by reaching out to producers around the state and connecting them with students.

“That type of engagement can create well-rounded teaching opportunities and knowledge sharing that benefits the students and everyone in the industry – the animals, the producers and, ultimately, consumers,” he said.

Aside from classroom discussions and lectures, Paudyal engages in off-campus instruction at dairy locations. As a part of the department’s emphasis on providing high-impact learning experiences, he leads dairy challenge activities, and he led the Texas A&M animal science academic quadrathlon team to a series of consecutive wins at the regional competition. He has also led the internship program for animal science students.

Paudyal’s research interest focuses on using data on herds and animals for decision-making in dairy farms. His research uses innovative technologies to optimize production, health and well-being of dairy cattle.

More about the National Teaching and Student Engagement Award and Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman

Gillett-Kaufman is a 2024 recipient of the Texas A&M University Provost Academic Professional Track Faculty Teaching Excellence Award and a 2023 recipient of the Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Educational Enrichment and Innovation in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She was also awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching from the Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America.

Gillett-Kaufman has been intentional in her approach to student development and career preparation. Beyond coursework, she emphasizes the importance of communication skills, whether interpersonal or in presentations or writing.

For students considering graduate school, she focuses on scientific, grant and professional writing skills that can enhance their early career paths.

“I want them to have the tools in their toolbox, transferrable skills they will need to move forward in their careers,” she said. “In the scientific or academic fields, it is one thing to have technical knowledge, but they need to have the ability to put it in writing or communicate with collaborators to find success.”

One of her students, Taylor Chapman, highlighted Gillett-Kaufman’s unique ability to connect with students, even in larger classes. Chapman said Gillett-Kaufman’s knowledge and advice helped her succeed in coursework and provided skills that apply beyond college.

“Dr. Gillett illustrates excellence and mentorship, inspiring many people, including myself,” Chapman said. “She genuinely enjoys helping others and has left a lasting impression on many students, and I will carry many of her teachings to use in my career.”

Craig Coates, Ph.D., associate dean for programmatic success for the College, associate Department of Entomology head and professor, said Gillett-Kaufman has played an integral role in creating strong curricula tailored to students’ needs. This includes online and distance courses, as well as professional development courses for undergraduate and graduate students.

Coates said Gillett-Kaufman is selfless in her willingness to help students, staff and fellow faculty members.

Brandon Lyons, Ph.D., a biological scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is one of those staff members she mentored. Lyons said Gillett-Kaufman is selflessly willing to help students, staff and faculty and sets a high bar for excellence. He described Gillett-Kaufman as compassionate and engaging with students, always striving to prevent those in need from “slipping through the cracks” of a major university.

“She exemplifies a high standard of teaching and mentorship that extends beyond a classroom that will benefit generations as we, her students, extend her lessons onto others,” Lyons said. 

To learn more about the APLU awards, visit https://www.aplu.org/news-and-media/blog/2024/11/10/usda-announces-national-teaching-awards-for-food-and-agricultural-sciences-2/.