Affiliate Registration | UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education

Erica Odera

Erica Odera is an associate scientist with the UF/IFAS PIE Center. Her expertise is in program evaluation and research methodology. Her training has focused on the application of program evaluation methods to different groups and settings, including community programs, extension, and international development. Prior to joining the PIE Center, Odera worked as an evaluator for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems where she designed and conducted monitoring and evaluation activities for 50+ projects across five different countries (Burkina Faso, Niger, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Nepal). She earned a PhD in Agricultural and Extension Education from Pennsylvania State University in 2018, and a Master’s in Sustainable Development Practice from the University of Florida in 2012.

Annabel Henson

Annabel Henson joined the PIE Center in February 2025 as the Media Coordinator. In this role she oversee’s communication efforts for the center, with a primary focus on social media management and strategic communication. A proud double Gator, Annabel earned both her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida. With her strong background in communication, she is dedicated to promoting the center’s work and enhancing its visibility across various platforms.

Tracy Irani

Dr. Irani is a Professor in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences and works within the PIE Center. She is a nationally recognized social scientist in the areas of public understanding of science and technology, crisis and risk communication, and public opinion issues analysis. Dr. Irani’s research looking at public response to issues of importance in agricultural and natural resource contexts has been featured nationally and led to initial development of the PIE Center.

Additionally, Dr. Irani’s research explores how public opinion and strategic communication influence attitudes and behavior on controversial science and technology issues. She developed the UF Critical Thinking Inventory (UF-CTI) to measure critical thinking and applies message framing to models like the Elaboration Likelihood Model and Theory of Planned Behavior. Her work focuses on decision-making, critical thinking, and strategic communications, particularly in agricultural and environmental settings.

Caroline Barnett

Caroline is a Ph.D. student in the University of Florida Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. At the PIE Center, she works on projects in outreach and education.

Ginger Orton

Texas Tech University
Department of Agricultural Education and Communications
gorton@ttu.edu

Lacey Roberts-Hill

Dr. Lacey Roberts-Hill

New Mexico State University

Department of Agricultural and Extension Education

MSC 3501

P.O. Box 30003

Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003

Phone: 575-646-3078

lnrob@nmsu.edu

Ricky Telg

Dr. Ricky Telg
University of Florida
Department of Agricultural Education and Communication
101B Bryant Space Science Center
Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone: 352-273-2094
rwtelg@ufl.edu

Audrey King

Dr. Audrey King

Oklahoma State University

Department of Agricultural Education, Communication & Leadership

503 Agricultural Hall

Stillwater, OK 74078

audrey.king@okstate.edu

Taylor Ruth

Dr. Taylor Ruth

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication

143 Filley Hall

P.O.Box 830947
Lincoln, NE 68583

Phone: 402-472-8701

taylor.ruth@unl.edu

Ashley McLeod-Morin

Dr. Ashley McLeod-Morin

University of Florida

UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education

1408 Sabal Palm Drive, Level 2

P.O.Box 110126
Gainesville, FL 32611

Phone: 352-273-2598

ashleynmcleod@ufl.edu

Karlibeth Leitheiser

Karlibeth Leitheiser joined the PIE Center in 2021 as a student assistant and has since taken on a variety of roles across multiple projects. In 2025, she stepped into her current role as Extension Program Specialist, where she supports the center’s Extension initiatives and acts as a liaison between the PIE Center and Extension professionals across the state.

Karlibeth holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida. Passionate about the mission of Extension, she is committed to strengthening the connection between clientele, county faculty, and stakeholders by helping them access and engage with the PIE Center’s resources.

Naik Wali

Naik is a visiting scholar from Pakistan. He works on quantitative and qualitative research projects with the PIE Center.

Cheng-xian Yang

Cheng-xian is a PhD student in the University of Florida Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. He is a student researcher with the PIE Center.

Meredith Oglesby

Meredith is a master’s student in the University of Florida Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. She is a student researcher with the PIE Center.

Michaela Kandzer

Michaela is responsible for the communication efforts of the Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement, and contributes to the center’s podcast, Science by the Slice. Michaela is a recent double gator, holding a BS in Food and Resource Economics, and a MS in Agricultural Education and Communication. Michaela first joined the PIE Center as a student worker in 2018 and has gained many valuable skills and experiences

Aly Morrison

As an operations specialist for the PIE Center, Aly Morrison focuses on coordinating meeting, managing projects, and handling logistics. She also assists with special event planning and administrative support. Aly is a double gator with a background in animal sciences, agricultural communications, and graphic design. Aly joined the PIE Center in 2021 as a student intern and has since gained valuable experience in communications, operations, and coordination.

Webinar

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Final Report

Issue Guide

preview of the issue guide

Academic Article

preview of the article

Mock Focus Group Moderator’s Guide

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Prevent & Protect Info Sheet

preview of the info sheet

Issue Guide

Preview of

Florida Blueberry Postcard

preview of the postcard

Florida Peaches Magazine Insert

preview of the magazine insert

Insight Summit: Social and New Media Marketing Workshop and Strategy Development

preview of the Insight Summit web page

Disaster Mental Health Workshops

preview of the workshop agenda

Mosquito Lesson Plans

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Local Choice Curriculum

preview of the local choice curriculum page

“Heat-Related Illness Prevention” Webinar

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“Preparing for the 2019 Hurricane Season” Webinar

Ashley McLeod Morin

Ashley is responsible for the communication efforts of the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, a multi-institutional center with several members of the outreach team located in the PIE Center. Ashley graduated from the University of Florida with a M.S. in agricultural education and communication and recently earned a PhD specializing in agricultural communication. Ashley joined the PIE Center as a full-time staff member in May 2016, but gained valuable experience at the PIE Center while working as a media assistant during her undergraduate experience.

Sandra Anderson

Sandra is a PIE Center research coordinator and heavily supports the data analysis and report-writing functions of the center. She also assists with instrument design, data collection, program evaluation and academic writing. Sandra received her B.S. in Food and Resource Economics with a concentration in Agricultural Business Management and her M.S. in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics both from IFAS at the University of Florida. Sandra joined the PIE Center in summer 2014. Prior to her current position Sandra gained 20 years of experience with social, economic and market research in her position as a Market Research Director at a marketing research firm.

Research projects:

Anissa Mattox

Anissa Mattox is a PIE Center research coordinator and supports the data analyst and report-writing functions of the PIE Center. Additionally, she assists with data collection, instrument development, program evaluation, and academic writing. Anissa received her master’s degree from the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education from Kansas State University in May 2019 and joined the PIE Center in April 2021. Before joining the PIE Center, Anissa worked as the research and marketing specialist for the Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement.

Angie B. Lindsey

Angela B. Lindsey is an associate professor in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences working within the PIE Center. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida in May 2013. Prior to her current position, Lindsey was a post-doctoral associate with the PIE Center, serving as the community outreach and dissemination core manager for the Healthy Gulf, Healthy Communities project. She currently serves as a point of contact for the Florida Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN).

Research projects:

Ricky Telg

Ricky Telg is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication and the Director of the Center for Public Issues Education. He previously worked as a television reporter, newspaper reporter and editor, and video producer for Texas A&M University’s Department of Agricultural Communications. He also taught journalism and broadcast production at Texas A&M. Ricky is faculty adviser for the UF/Agricultural Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow and served as the faculty adviser for the National ACT organization for five years. He received Teacher of the Year honors in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 1997 and 2011, and CALS Advisor of the Year in 2000 and 2014. Ricky is also an active member of the Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences.

His research interests include agricultural communication (television/video production, print media, and media relations) and distance education (instructional design, instructional media).

Research projects:

Lauri M. Baker

Lauri M. Baker is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication with a research appointment (65%) with the Center for Public Issues Education. She previously worked at Kansas State University for eight years where she earned tenure and co-founded the Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement (CREE). She continues her work with CREE and integrates her research and extension work with both PIE Center and CREE. Baker earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from Texas Tech University in 2003. Following her graduation, she served as Vice President and Director of Communication for the Texas Wheat Producers Board and Association. After four years in the industry, Baker returned to school to pursue her master’s and Ph.D. in agricultural communication from the University of Florida in 2009 and 2011, respectively.

Her research interests include new-media technologies, communication preferences and impact on local economies, online technology for economic development, marketing through new and social media, strategic communication and audience analysis, Extension communication, and climate change and disaster communication.