Dr. Austin Moore has been selected for the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Excellence in Student Engagement at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

An Assistant Professor from the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Moore earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Communications and Education and his Master of Science in Agricultural Communication from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communication from Oklahoma State University.

“It is so humbling to receive this recognition,” said Moore. “I feel this award is a tribute to the character of the Agricultural Communications program here at ABAC, which is focused on hands-on learning and real-world experiences. We are just getting started.”

The award celebrates and rewards faculty members who excel in mentoring students through interdisciplinary collaborations, innovative projects, internship opportunities, undergraduate research, or other academic enrichment experiences that engage students actively in the learning process.

Moore not only mentors students completing internships, such as the Sunbelt Ag Expo social media internships, he advises the Ag Communicators of Tomorrow club and is co-advisor for the newly formed Collegiate 4-H Club.

The head of Moore’s department said he “exhibits student engagement from the moment students step into our major and continues to engage our students throughout their professional career … [He] prompts students to have conversations, ask questions, and seek thoughts from additional experts.”

A peer nomination stated that “while his CV will document his excellence in mentoring students, it cannot adequately illuminate the high quality of his character or steadfast commitment to supporting ABAC students. He regularly taps into his extensive professional network to place students in internships, graduate school assistantships, and employment positions, often talking associates into creating these positions especially for the student in question.”

A 2023 graduate and former student shares that Moore “was a vital influence in my academic journey both in and out of the classroom. Throughout my time at ABAC, he was relentless in his pursuit to better the ABAC Agricultural Communication program, and all the students he came into contact with. From undergraduate research to internships, he excels in all areas of student engagement.”