Natalie Ferand

Originally from Dallas, Texas,  I graduated PhD from the University of Florida in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, specializing in agricultural teacher education. I completed my undergraduate degree at Texas Tech University in Horticulture and Turf Grass Science and my Masters of Agricultural Leadership at the University of Georgia. Before returning to school to pursue my Ph.D., I taught high school agriculture in central Georgia and east Texas.

My research had focused on science within school-based agricultural education (SBAE), teacher professional development, teacher self-efficacy, experiences of pre-service teachers, and gender stereotypes of agricultural careers. Most recently, my dissertation explored teachers' behaviors and attitudes towards integrating science in their courses, students' motivation to learn science in agriculture, and the impacts of science integration on students' content and technical knowledge.

I co-lead the STEM-it Up: Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Floriculture Curriculum in Bloom professional development program, where I work with current high school agriculture teachers from across the nation. In conjunction with Clemson University and supported by the American Floral Endowment, this program focuses on learning and teaching STEM concepts related to the horticulture/floriculture industry in a new way by highlighting the embedded STEM concepts in this curricula. Thirty-six agriscience teachers from 19 states have participated in STEM-it Up, impacting over 5,000 students by illuminating STEM concepts within their plant science classes. The third cohort of the STEM-it Up program is currently underway, with an additional 25 teachers.

Other service activities include membership and reviewer for the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE), reviewer for National FFA Organization Agriscience Fair, and alumna and volunteer for Kappa Delta sorority.

Dr. Ferand is the Program Leader for the Career & Technical Education Program at Virginia Tech's School of Education