Top of the Class
Whittington gains national recognition for Excellence in Teaching

A College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences faculty member has been recognized nationally for her teaching.
Susie Whittington, associate professor in the Department of Human and Community Resource Development, was honored in early November with the USDA Excellence in Teaching Award. The award was announced at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
"This is the highest teaching award among colleges of agriculture and related sciences nationwide," said Linda Martin, associate dean and director of undergraduate programs. Carl Zulauf won the same honor for teaching in agricultural economics in 1995. Other faculty members from Ohio State have been honored on the regional level: Ann Christy, Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, in 2005; Keith M. Irvin, Animal Sciences, in 2003; and Bernard L. Erven, Agricultural Economics, in 1999.
Whittington, who earned her bachelor's degree (1982), master's degree (1988), and doctorate (1991) in agricultural education at Ohio State, is recognized as a national leader in research on student cognitive engagement. And she puts her expertise to practice in the classroom: Her teaching methods promote a careful combination of participation, quiet time, problem-solving, group interaction, and cooperative learning in a professional atmosphere, in which she consistently shows enthusiasm for the subject matter as well as the well-being of the students.
The combination has resulted in high ratings on student evaluations and, more importantly, the development of future teachers who understand from first-hand experience the difference that good teaching methods can make.
One such student, Mindy Lohrey, said as much in her letter supporting Whittington's nomination for the award. Calling Whittington's classes "challenging, engaging and relevant," Lohrey, now a graduate student in the College of Education and Human Ecology, added: "The first lesson Dr. Whittington impressed upon me is that how you make students feel is invaluable and can empower a person for a lifetime. ... Her energy and enthusiasm for teaching and learning is unparalleled, and the impact she has had  on my life and the lives of countless others is unsurpassed."
Whittington is humbled by the recognition, crediting mentors Robert Warmbrod, Kirby Barrick, Jim Knight, and, in particular, L. H. Newcomb. "Few people have the privilege of learning at the feet of a master," Whittington said. "He is the best."  -- Martha Filipic

College Enrollment Up
Students attracted to CFAES program diversity

The diversity of offerings--from traditional majors such as animal sciences to more progressive programs such as professional golf management--is attracting more students each year to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Jill Tyson, CFAES admissions coordinator, said that enrollment in the college has been increasing over the past few years. At 178, the number of incoming freshmen during fall quarter is the most the college has experienced since 2005.
Tyson said that more than half of the students enrolled in CFAES programs had ACT test scores of 27 or higher, which is consistent with the university average.
"Those students are coming in, qualifying for university scholarships and funding beyond the college," said Tyson. "In addition, we are seeing solid numbers of students entering the honors and scholars programs."
CFAES offers 18 majors across one school and seven departments. Among the fastest growing programs are food science, environmental science, and construction systems management.
"Construction systems management, in particular, is one of the fastest-growing majors at the university," said Tyson. "We anticipated that we would attract about 50 students to the program when it was first established, and now we have over 450 enrolled."
For more information on the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, log on to http://cfaes.osu.edu. -- Candace Pollock

Program to combat veterinary shortage in Ohio

A national shortage of veterinarians specializing in livestock, poultry, and other food animals could be alleviated as the result of a new program at The Ohio State University.
Ohio State's Department of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine are jointly sponsoring the new program, "Veterinary Early Commitment Program for Students Interested in Food Supply Medicine," as a way to encourage animal sciences students to apply for admission into the College of Veterinary Medicine during the spring quarter of their second year of study. In return, the veterinary college will reserve a maximum of 10 seats for the most qualified students among the applicants. These students will enter the College of Veterinary Medicine following completion of their bachelor's degree.
The program, which began in September, is in response to a national shortage of food supply veterinarians, said James Kinder, chair of the Department of Animal Sciences.
A 2006 study by the Food Supply Veterinary Medical Coalition concluded that between now and 2016, the demand for food supply veterinarians will increase 12 to 13 percent, while the actual number of such veterinarians will  decrease 4 percent each year.
"Our goal is to obtain students with a strong foundation in food supply medicine and put them on a career track earlier in their academic career," Kinder said.
For more information about the program, see the Department of Animal Sciences web site at http://ansci.osu.edu/students_undergrad.html.

They're No. 1: Food, Ag Comm, 'Ambassador' teams take honors

An Ohio State University team recently brought home a national championship, although this one wasn't in football, but in food. CFAES students Ramesh Yettella (captain), Anand Subramanian, Megan Hoffer, Ashley Weatherington, Rocky Gupta (alternate), and Sandra Zurbrugg (alternate) won the 2008 Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) College Bowl in New Orleans in June, beating teams from the University of Georgia, Texas A&M University, and Cornell University, among others, and bagging the $1,000 first prize. The annual competition tests the knowledge of student teams from across the United States in the areas of food science and technology, the history of foods and food processing, food law, and food trivia. IFTSA (http://www.iftsa.org/) and General Mills Inc. sponsor it.
Students talking to prospective students, and also talking to potential employers. That's the mission of the CFAES Ambassadors, college students who volunteer their time and energy for student recruitment and industry relations. They apply to and interview for the group during winter quarter. If chosen, they're trained, among other things, in giving campus tours. "They enhance recruitment activities with the student touch," the team's web site (http://cfaes.osu.edu/current-students/get-involved/college-ambassadors/) notes. This year they were honored for the quality of their work, garnering the Excellence in Recruitment and Retention Award at the 2008 National Agriculture Ambassador Conference hosted by North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C.
The CFAES chapter of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) (http://gonact.org/) won three honors at the 2008 Ag Media Summit and National ACT Conference in Tampa, Fla., in June: the Award for Excellence in Educational Activities, which noted the students' Ag  Comm Bootcamp for high school students and their Scarlet and Gray Ag Day efforts; the Award of Excellence in Fundraising, based on the chapter's selling of career padfolios and its partnership with the Ohio Soybean Association; and the 2008 Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award, which rated and recognized the chapter's social, leadership, membership, fundraising, and educational activities combined. The chapter has 21 members. -- Kurt Knebusch

Course offers freshmen taste of global ag economy, labor issues

Like all other aspects of the current economy, food and agriculture are truly global enterprises that are nonetheless affected by a myriad of issues and forces that can only be seen and understood at the local level.
This autumn quarter, first-year students in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences will have a chance to explore some of those issues up close and personal, thanks to the CFAES Freshman Experience in Mexico--a 10-day study abroad program aimed at providing young scholars with a first-hand look into the workings of the globalized economy, the unique culture of one of the United States' main trade partners, and labor force issues that impact both nations.
From December 11 to 20, 14 freshmen will visit the central Mexico city of Cuernavaca and surrounding areas, staying with local families to learn about cultural differences and get a taste of day-to-day Mexican life. Planned activities include tours of food manufacturing companies, animal health facilities, and cultural sites--with presentations ranging from economics to the cultural significance of maize.
Hosted by Cuernavaca's Cemanahuac Learning Community, the program will offer a total of five credit hours. Resident directors for the course are Linda Martin, CFAES associate dean, and Kelly Koren, the college's study abroad director.
"The goal of this program is to expose freshmen to global issues related to our college," said Koren, who added that this is the first CFAES study abroad program specifically designed for first-quarter freshmen. "Oftentimes students seek more 'exotic' locations for study abroad and forget how important it is to learn about our neighbors." -- Mauricio Espinoza

Going Places
CFAES undergraduate focused on making a difference

In his eight years on the faculty at The Ohio State University, Neal Hooker has never encountered an undergraduate student quite like Debra Van Camp.
A double-major in food science and nutrition and agricultural economics, Van Camp was a runner-up for the Truman Scholarship and is currently a finalist for both the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships. In getting to this point, Van Camp has overcome challenges and made sure to help others along the way.
"She's strong academically, she does research as an undergraduate that's of publishable quality, she knows how to apply her work in different settings, and she's involved in university leadership and student programs," said Hooker, associate professor in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. "Any two of those qualities would make a fantastic student. She displays all of them."
A 2005 graduate of the Canal-Winchester School District, Van Camp became the first Fairfield County recipient of the Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship. The first in her family to attend college, she believes that a five-week study abroad trip to Beijing during the summer between her first and second year was what made the difference for her.
"The China trip opened up a world of possibilities for me," Van Camp said. "When I came back, I felt I could do anything." She began applying for research grants and other opportunities that came her way, and, according to her advisors, has made the most of her college experience.
Eventually, Van Camp hopes to focus her career on food policy. "I'd like to change the way we look at food policy," she said. "Right now, we deal crisis by crisis, but we don't have a strong underlying policy to tackle the big issues--hunger, nutrition, poverty, food safety. I'd like to work on good research-based food policies that will promote peace, protect public health, and ensure sustainable economic growth." -- Martha Filipic
Among Van Camp's accomplishments:
-- As a student assistant with the Economic Access Initiative, she created a student advisory board that soon became a new student organization, Students for Equal Access, which encourages students across campus to spread the word about broader access to higher education.
-- She testified at a congressional hearing on increasing the quality of high school education in both rural and urban areas.
-- In spring 2007, Van Camp was named as the undergraduate representative on the university's Board of Trustees. "It has given me a whole new perspective of the university," she said. "And it's taught me how to think strategically and holistically about issues.…Sitting in a room with Les Wexner, U.S. District Judge (Algenon) Marbley, and CEOs of some major corporations--to know my voice counts as much as theirs has been empowering."
-- After receiving one of 10 grants from the university's Digital Union, she conducted research and developed a web site (http://digitalunion.osu.edu/r2/index.php?q=node/35) on trans fats and nutrition labeling. She presented those findings at the Brazil Research Exchange Program at the University of São Paulo in early November.
-- After winning a grant from the OARDC Director's Undergraduate Research Competition, she conducted a study comparing properties of corn starch made from organically and conventionally grown corn, and presented her findings at the 2008 Institute of Food Technologists Conference in New Orleans.
-- In 2008, Van Camp interned with the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics in Washington D.C., where she worked with agricultural economists from the government sector to evaluate and assess small farmers and direct marketers. She also attended congressional hearings and other briefings on the U.S. Farm Bill, trade, energy, and other issues impacting agricultural policy, and summarized the hearings for the C-FARE Board of Directors.
-- After graduation in 2009, a Rotary International Service Scholarship will allow her to become a cultural ambassador in Taiwan, where she will learn Mandarin Chinese, before attending graduate school.