FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kate Shoulders, associate professor of agricultural education in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, has been named editor-elect of the Journal of Agricultural Education.

Her appointment is for three years, beginning in 2019.

The journal is published by the American Association for Agricultural Education. It promotes the profession of agricultural education by facilitating communication among members of the profession that results in widely shared results of research, trends, developments and innovations in agricultural education. The journal's scope includes extension education, communications, leadership development, teacher education and related areas that support the agricultural sciences.

"I'm thrilled to be able to serve my profession in such an impactful way," said Shoulders. "I plan to leave my stamp on the journal by improving the quality of reviews through reviewer training and improving the pace of publication for submitted manuscripts. This role also serves a personal goal as I'll be responsible for reading all accepted manuscripts — it's a great opportunity to improve my own knowledge of current research in my field."

Shoulders, who was one of 10 professors nationally featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education's Innovators Supplement in October, has been a faculty member in Bumpers College's Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology since 2012.

"Kate has an excellent track record of scholarship in AAAE, has demonstrated a passion to advance scholarship for AAAE and has administrative support to take the JAE to continued excellence in scholarship of our profession," said Brad Greiman, chair of the JAE's editing and managing board. "We appreciate Dr. Shoulders' willingness to serve the profession in this capacity. As editor-elect, Kate will work closely with Harry (Boone, current editor) to ensure a smooth transition."

AAAE is the national society for social science scholarship in food, agriculture and natural resources, and seeks discovery and exchange of evidence-based solutions for social science challenges in agriculture and related sciences.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.