Overview

My research explores how agricultural communication education can better prepare students and professionals to communicate complex agricultural issues with clarity, credibility, and context. Central to this work is agricultural literacy within agricultural communications, particularly identifying the competencies communicators need to effectively interpret and translate agricultural topics for diverse audiences across sectors.

I focus on applied research that connects industry needs, curriculum development, and communication practice. This includes examining how emerging media and communication technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, are shaping the field and how these tools can be integrated responsibly into agricultural communication education.

Research Areas

Science Communication and Public Understanding of Agriculture

My research explores how complex agricultural information is translated for public audiences, with a focus on clarity, credibility, and context. This work examines how communicators interpret and adapt research-based agricultural information for non-expert audiences, contributing to broader public understanding of agriculture.

Agricultural Communication, Literacy, and Workforce Competencies

My dissertation examines agricultural literacy competencies necessary for success in agricultural communications careers, building on my master’s thesis, which identified core communication competencies in the field. This line of work explores how curriculum can better align with industry expectations and prepare graduates to communicate complex agricultural topics across sectors.

Media Framing and Agricultural Issues Communication

I study how agricultural issues are communicated through media and public messaging, including crisis communication and message framing related to complex and often misunderstood agricultural topics.

Emerging Media and Communication Technologies

My research explores how emerging digital tools and technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, are shaping communication practices. I am particularly interested in how these tools can be integrated into agricultural communication education in ethical, effective, and professionally relevant ways.

Innovative Teaching and Pedagogy in Agricultural Communications

As an educator, I examine teaching strategies that support student learning and professional development in agricultural communications. This includes experiential learning, project-based coursework, and instructional approaches that help students build confidence and competence as communicators.

Current Projects

Published Refereed Journal Articles

Palmer, K., Landaverde, R., Benitez, J. A., Apple, T. K., Norris-Parish, S., Leggette, H. R., & Dooley, K. (Accepted, in production). Gauging student perceptions of artificial intelligence in agricultural leadership, education, and communications. Natural Sciences Education. DOI: 10.1002/nse2.70054.

Refereed Journal Articles in Review

Apple, T. K., Palmer, K., McCrary, A., Berthold, A., & Leggette, H. (Submitted). From mailbox to maintenance: Evaluating the effectiveness of educational mailers for septic system owners in the Attoyac Bayou Watershed. Journal of Applied Communications (Research in Brief).

Topics of Other Current Projects

Agricultural literacy competencies for agricultural communications graduates (dissertation research)
Message framing and media coverage of emerging agricultural issues
Crisis communication and early messaging in animal disease outbreaks
Student perceptions and uses of generative artificial intelligence in agricultural communication
Pedagogical strategies that support student confidence, creativity, and communication skill development