Tracy Kitchel, Ph.D. will join CFAES as the Chair of the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees, Dr. Kitchel’s appointment is effective Aug. 1, 2016. 

Kitchel recently served as assistant vice provost for graduate and postdoctoral affairs for the Office of Graduate Studies at the University of Missouri where he directed the campus fellowship selection process, coordinated events and graduate assistant teaching orientation, and advocated for graduate students on various committees. He also was an associate professor for the Department of Agricultural Education and Leadership in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. He was a faculty member for the Center for the Collaboration and Development of Educational Innovations and the Center for Human Dimensions in Natural Resources.

The Gold Chalk Award for excellence in graduate teaching from the University of Missouri Graduate Professional Council, the Superior Graduate Faculty Award from the University of Missouri Graduate Student Association, and the Great Plains IDEA (Interactive Distance Education Alliance) Faculty Excellence Award are among many of Dr. Kitchel’s awards and honors. Dr. Kitchel received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Ohio State University and his doctoral degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Missouri.