August 19, 2008

Brian Myers, an assistant professor of agricultural education and communication, is among 20 people recently recognized as "emerging leaders" by Phi Delta Kappa International, a professional association for educators.

The honorees are educators age 40 and younger and are chosen for their professional accomplishments. Podcasts featuring interviews with each of the 20 emerging leaders are available through http://www.pdkemergingleaders.org.

Myers, who earned his Ph.D. at UF in 2004 and became an assistant professor in June of that year, said leaving his previous career as a high school agriculture teacher to pursue a higher degree was one of the hardest professional decisions he ever made. But he found that, as an assistant professor, he can make a different kind of impact by encouraging future high school teachers to become effective leaders in their schools and in agriculture. He helped lead the agricultural education and communication faculty in launching a distance-learning Master of Science degree in 2005.

Myers, 33, of High Springs, is probably best known for his efforts to teach agriculture as an integrated science and preparing his students to do so, as well. He serves on three national committees working toward that goal.