Dr. Welsh and Dr. Elizabeth Karcher, NACTA President
University of Maryland Faculty Member Recognized for Outstanding Excellence in Agricultural Higher Education
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Dr. Melissa Leiden Welsh, Associate Clinical Professor of Agricultural Education and Director of the Agricultural Science and Technology program at the University of Maryland (UMD), has been awarded the prestigious NACTA Educator Award by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA). The award was presented during NACTA’s Annual Conference in Starkville Mississippi, honoring educators who demonstrate exceptional commitment and innovation in agricultural higher education.
The NACTA Educator Award is a peer-reviewed, criterion-based honor recognizing faculty members across North America who represent the highest standards of teaching, student mentorship, and instructional innovation in agriculture and related disciplines.
"Receiving the NACTA Educator Award is a deeply humbling honor," said Dr. Welsh. "Agricultural education shapes the future of our food systems, environmental stewardship, and rural communities. My goal has always been to empower students to think critically, lead passionately, and bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and real-world application."
At the University of Maryland, Dr. Welsh oversees undergraduate and graduate initiatives within Agricultural Science and Technology and Agricultural & Extension Education. Her work emphasizes hands-on experiential learning, curriculum design, learner centered courses, and international educational exchanges. Throughout her tenure, she has played a pivotal role in expanding opportunities for future agricultural educators, Extension agents, and industry leaders across Maryland and beyond.
The NACTA Annual Conference brings together post-secondary agricultural educators from across the globe to share research, instructional strategies, and best practices in agricultural teaching and learning.
About NACTA
The North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) is a professional society focused on advancing scholarship, teaching, and learning in agriculture and related disciplines at the post-secondary level. NACTA recognizes excellence in teaching and provides a forum for post-secondary agricultural educators to share effective teaching techniques and pedagogical research.
