The original press release is courtesy of the National FFA.
The National Council for Agricultural Education (The Council) has named Dr. Travis Park the director of agricultural education, National FFA board chair and National FFA advisor. Amendments to the National FFA Constitution and Bylaws adopted by the delegates at the 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo stipulated that the Council’s responsibility is now to appoint this leadership position. Dr. Park replaces Dr. James Woodard, who stepped down in May 2022. Cheryl Zimmerman, the executive secretary, is currently serving as the interim advisor.
In this role, Dr. Park will serve as chairperson of the National FFA Board of Directors, where he will provide oversight for the National FFA Organization. He will advise the National FFA Officers, the board of directors, and the National FFA Delegates and committees on policy matters and help the national officers conduct meetings. In this three-year renewable role, he will co-direct the joint governance committee of the National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation Board of Trustees and serve as an advocate for issues affecting FFA and agricultural education stakeholders.
“I am humbled to be afforded this opportunity to serve agricultural education and the young people that are our future as national FFA advisor and director of agricultural education,” Dr. Park said. “The National FFA Organization has a rich history, and I am excited to see where the future leads us.”
Dr. Park is a professor of agricultural education in the agricultural and human sciences department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. He served as the 1992-93 National FFA president and completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in agricultural education from Purdue University in 1996 and 2002. He taught high school agriculture at Tri-County High School in Wolcott, Ind., for nearly six years, where the agriculture program and FFA chapter were recognized for excellence at the state and national levels. In 2005, he earned his doctoral degree in agricultural education from the University of Florida. After graduating, he served as an assistant and associate professor with tenure at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., from 2002 until 2013. In 2013, he relocated to North Carolina State University.
He is the program coordinator for agricultural education in the agricultural and human sciences department. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in curriculum, program planning and teaching methods in agriculture. He coordinates the student teachers in agriculture, ensuring their placements, mentorship, and supervision in agriculture programs across North Carolina.
Dr. Park led the development of North Carolina State’s first fully online degree program, the agricultural science online major, to provide remote access to a robust North Carolina State degree. He is currently leading the effort to establish the Agricultural Communicators Program, a collaborative effort between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
He and his wife, Lacy, are raising three daughters and currently reside in Raleigh, N.C.
“On behalf of our entire staff at National FFA, I offer our sincere congratulations to Dr. Park on his appointment to these prestigious leadership positions,” said National FFA Chief Executive Officer Scott Stump. “The scope of his roles impacts all parts of our organization. I look forward to working with Dr. Park and am confident that with his counsel and guidance, National FFA will continue to progress and grow.”
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.
About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education. A separately registered nonprofit organization, the foundation is governed by a board of trustees that includes the national FFA president, educators, business leaders and individual donors. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.