Thomas Paulsen was awarded the 2021 Teaching Scholar Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

Thomas Paulsen, associate professor and department head of the Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies Department, was awarded the 2021 Teaching Scholar Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA).

The Teaching Scholar Award recognizes Paulsen for his dedication and excellence in the teaching of agriculture at Morningside University. Paulsen previously received the 2011 NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award and the 2016 National Educator Award at the Annual Conference of North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. The NACTA Teaching Scholar Award is presented to a maximum of 1% of the NACTA membership body.Dr. Thomas Paulsen, associate professor and department head for ag and food studies at Morningside University

“I sincerely appreciate the experience we are able to offer students here at Morningside,” said Paulsen. “It’s an honor to be able to partner with my colleagues across the university to find ways to make our curriculum more innovative and incorporate real-world experiences and research opportunities into our teaching. Our students want to get their hands dirty both literally and figuratively, and Morningside is able to do that early and often.”

Paulsen has been a member of the faculty since 2016 and was integral to the launch of the Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies Department at Morningside. He received a B.S. in Agricultural Education from Northwest Missouri State, 1987; an M.S. in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University in 2001; and Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University in 2011. Dr. Paulsen’s research interest falls within the area of effective teaching and learning practices in the discipline of agriculture, particularly in higher education capstone and field experiences with a primary focus on preservice and in-service teacher education.

Paulsen grew up on a family farm in southwest Iowa near Atlantic, where he was actively involved in 4-H, FFA, football, basketball, and band. He taught and coached at Lynnville-Sully High School from 1987 to 1992 and at Carroll High School from 1992 to 2008 before completing his terminal degree.

The Morningside University Regina Roth Agricultural and Food Studies program prepares students for careers in agricultural and food studies, agriculture education, agribusiness, environmental policy and law, agronomy, and food safety.

Ag and Food Studies at Morningside