Mary Kate Lanier, MS

Bio

Mary Kate Morgan Lanier grew up on her family’s row crop farm in Currituck County, North Carolina. As an active member of the National FFA Organization, Mary Kate found her passion working with people and sharing the story of agriculture, which led her to North Carolina State University to pursue a degree in Agricultural Education with a minor in Animal Science. Mary Kate was an involved student leader and held various internships during her time as an undergraduate student at NC State, where she graduated from in May of 2020. Her love of learning and NC State, led her back to campus where she served as a graduate teaching and research assistant while pursuing a Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education. She graduated with her M.S. in May of 2022 and jumped at the opportunity to return to her alma mater to teach and advise student in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences!

Mary Kate and her husband Amos, have two black labrador retrievers named after two of their favorite places on campus, Reynolds and Doak. In her free time Mary Kate enjoys visiting with friends and family, traveling, spending time on the farm, and cheering on the Wolfpack (especially in football, women’s basketball, and baseball!)

Programs and Initiatives

• FFA Alumni and Supporters at NC State,
• NC State Advisor Professional Development Committee
• Agricultural and Human Sciences Ambassadors

Primary Teaching Responsibilities

• AEE 101: Introduction to Career and Technical Education
• AEE 103: Fundamentals of Agricultural and Extension Education
• AEE 491: Seminar in Agricultural Education
• AEE 495: First Year Seminar in Agricultural Education

Professional Honors/Offices/Recognitions

• 2025 – 2027: University Representative, North Carolina FFA Alumni Council
• 2025: CALS Values Award for Excellence in Community, NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• 2024: Outstanding New Advisor Award, NC State University
• 2024: Certificate of Merit – Outstanding New Advising – NACADA – The Global Community for Academic Advising
• 2024-2026: Program Improvement Committee Secretary, American Association for Agricultural Education
• 2024-2027: Advisor Professional Development Committee Co-Chair, NC State University
• 2022: Graduate Student Teaching Award, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA)
• 2022:Outstanding Graduate Instructor, NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• 2022: Outstanding Graduate Student in Agricultural and Extension Education, NC State Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences
• 2022: Outstanding Thesis, NC State Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences
• 2022: Graduate Student Teaching Award, NC State Graduate Student Association
• 2020: Mathews Medal, North Carolina State University
• 2020: Outstanding Student Leader, Council for Advancement and Support of Education Affiliated Student Advancement Programs
• 2020: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Outstanding Senior, NC State Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences
• 2018: American FFA Degree, National FFA Organization
• 2016-2017: State Vice President, North Carolina FFA Association

Selected Publications

• Lanier, M. K. M., Lambert, M. D., Ford, J. C., & Paglia, K. L. (2026). The Professional Quality of Life of North Carolina School-Based Agriculture Education Teachers. Journal of Agricultural Education, 67(1), Article 6. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v67i1.3270
• Lanier, M.K.M., Lambert, M.D., Ford, J.C., & Paglia, K. L. (May 2025). How are they? Assessing the professional quality of life of North Carolina agricultural educators. Oral presentation presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education Annual Conference, Lubbock, TX.
• Lanier, M.K.M., Lambert, M.D., Ford, J.C., & Paglia, K. L. (February 2025). How are they? Assessing the professional quality of life of North Carolina agricultural educators. Oral presentation presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education Southern Region Annual Conference, Irving, TX.
• Paglia, K. L., Beasley, C., Park, T. D., Lambert, M. D., Lanier, M.K.M., Bledsoe, J., Edwards, S., Morgan, J. E., & Warner, W. J. (2025). Preservice teacher retreat: Community, collaboration, and connections. Innovative Idea Poster presented at the 2024 Southern Region American Association for Agricultural Education Research Conference, Irving, TX.
• Lanier, M.K.M., Ford, J.C., Morgan, J.E. (May 2024). Expanding the reach of AEE club: Rebranding the departmental student organization as FFA alumni and supporters. Poster presentation presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education Annual Conference, Manhattan, KS.
• Lanier, M.K.M. (May 2024). Interview an upperclassman: The value of peer mentorship to first-year students in an orientation course. Poster presentation presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education Annual Conference, Manhattan, KS.
• Ford, J.C., Lambert, M.D., Park, T.D., & Lanier, M.K.M. (February 2024). Visualizing student teaching. Poster presentation presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education Annual Conference, Manhattan, KS.
• Lanier, M.K.M., Ford, J.C., Morgan, J.E. (February 2024). Expanding the reach of AEE club: Rebranding the departmental student organization as FFA alumni and supporters. Poster presentation presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education Southern Region Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Lanier, M.K.M. (February 2024). Interview an upperclassman: The value of peer mentorship to first-year students in an orientation course. Poster presentation presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education Southern Region Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Ford, J.C., Lambert, M.D., Park, T.D., & Lanier, M.K.M. (February 2024). Visualizing student teaching. Poster presentation presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education Southern Region Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Area(s) of Expertise

• Academic Advising
• Student Involvement
• Diverse Learners