Ag. Ed. is growing in the Department of Community Sustainability
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EmailThe Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education program welcomes Dr. Jessica Toombs and FFA team welcomes Kevin Nugent this fall to help expand Ag. Ed. programming in CSUS.
The Department of Community Sustainability welcomes two new members, Dr. Jessica Toombs and Kevin Nugent, this fall to help expand Ag. Ed. programming within the department and across the state. Toombs joins CSUS as an Assistant Professor in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education program. Nugent joins CSUS to serve as the FFA Contest and Recognition Coordinator, a newly established position for the Future Farmers of America program.
Toombs brings a wealth of agricultural education experience at both the high school and postsecondary level. Toombs served as a high school agriculture teacher from 2011-2018 at Sikeston Career and Technology Center in Missouri. She then received her M.S. (2018) and Ph.D. (2021) in Agricultural Education from Oklahoma State University. Prior to joining the faculty as MSU, Toombs was an Assistant Professor at Chico State University where she was awarded Faculty of the Year by the College of Agriculture in 2024.
In her new capacity, Toombs will be teaching future teachers as they prepare to lead agriculture, food, and natural resources education (AFNRE) programs throughout Michigan. Her research areas of interest include effective support of these teachers as they begin their careers in the classroom. Toombs says of her future work here at MSU, “By supporting early career teachers, I am able to impact their students and communities through the premier leadership, personal growth, and career success available within an AFNRE program.”
Nugent is a returning Spartan and brings a strong background of experience leading activities within the FFA program across the state. Nugent earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriscience Education in 1999 from MSU, a major program within a predecessor department to Community Sustainability. Prior to joining CSUS in this new role, Nugent worked with students for 26 years to help prepare for FFA competitions and activities across the state of Michigan. In his new role, Nugent will be helping to provide and coordinate contest and activities for the state FFA.
Nugent’s position as Contest and Recognition Coordinator is a new staff role within FFA and has been made possible through State of Michigan Public Act 120, funding this and several other initiatives to impact agriscience students and teachers across Michigan. Nugent says of his future work, “The goal is to provide meaningful experiences for students to expand on their knowledge of agriscience and natural resources. Now, I will have the challenge of preparing those contests and activities and hopefully allow students to best showcase their skills and knowledge. I am excited about the opportunity to work on these FFA Activities from the other side.”
