The Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has welcomed three new faculty members to its Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications this fall. Krysti Kelley, Toby Lepley and Jean Parrella hold doctorates and bring more than 39 years of combined experience, the college said.
Kelley is an assistant professor whose work is 50% research, 40% teaching and 10% outreach. Her areas include teaching and learning, teacher turnover, secondary agricultural education and teacher preparation. She previously taught secondary agricultural education in Aledo for six years. Kelley said she hopes the department's programs will lead others across the nation.
Lepley is an associate professor of the practice, with 80% of his work in teaching and 20% in service. He retired as associate vice president and state youth leader for the Louisiana State University AgCenter after 25 years with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. He teaches undergraduate students about the land-grant system and leadership theory. His priority is growing the department's online master's program, which he said many people do not know is offered 100% online.