Sioux City, Iowa - Dr. Thomas H. Paulsen, former Assistant Professor and Professor in-charge of the capstone student managed Ag 450 Farm and Coordinator of the Agricultural Teacher Education Program at Iowa State University, has assumed the position of Associate Professor and Department Chair of Applied Agricultural & Food Studies at Morningside College.

Paulsen's appointment took place on July 1, 2016. He succeeds Dr. Anthony Kern, who served as interim Chair for two years, and will continue his role as Associate Professor and Department Chair of Biology and Chemistry at Morningside College.

Dr. Paulsen received a B.S. in Agricultural Education, Northwest Missouri State, 1987; M.S. in Agricultural Education, Iowa State University, 2001; and Ph.D. in Agricultural Education, Iowa State University, 2011. 

Paulsen has also been recognized as the Iowa Teacher of the Year in 2000 and was a Milken National Education Award winner in 2001. He also received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Graduate Student Teaching Award in 2011 and has also been recognized by the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with the Early Achievement in Teaching Award. In 2016, Dr. Paulsen received a National Educator Award at the Annual Conference of North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

"I believe Morningside College is well positioned to become an educational leader in the training of agriculturalists at the state, regional, national and international levels", Paulsen said. "I am excited to work with faculty to provide for students a well-rounded, liberal arts education that integrates real-world experiences and quality coursework in agriculture that will provide program graduates with a broad view of the world in which they will live and work".

Paulsen's wife Michelle will be teaching Special Education at Akron-Westfield Community School District. They have a daughter Marissa who works in the Sports Marketing field in Washington D.C. and two sons who attend Morningside College. Drew studies Music Education and Alex is in Philosophy and Religious Studies.