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School of Communication and Journalism

Erica Summerfield

Headshot of Erica Summerfield

Title

Assistant Professor of Agricultural Communication

Office Building

Yeager Hall

Office

230

Mailing Address

Yeager Hall 230
School of Communication & Journalism-Box 2235
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

Erica D. Summerfield (Ph.D., Ohio State University) is an assistant professor of agricultural communication. She teaches courses in mass communication and advertising. Her research focuses on the use of agricultural communication to solve complex issues in rural communities with a focus on design, agricultural literacy, and safety and health. She earned a Ph.D. in agricultural communication, education and leadership from Ohio State University.

Education

• Ph.D. in agricultural communications, education and leadership | Ohio State University | 2024
• M.S. in agricultural communications | Oklahoma State University | 2019
• B.S. in agricultural sciences and natural resources - leadership and extension education | Oklahoma State University | 2016

Academic Responsibilities

  • ADV 315: Digital Promotions 
  • MCOM 151: Introduction to Mass Communication
  • MCOM 345: Public Relations Writing
  • MCOM 585/MCOM 492/ENGL 492: Science Writing

Committees and Professional Memberships

Committees

  • COJO Graduate Program Committee
  • COJO Wellness Committee

Professional Memberships

  • National Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE)
  • North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA)

Awards and Honors

  • 2024 | Ohio State University Graduate Associate Teaching Award (GATA)
  • 2024 | Ohio State University ACEL Graduate Outstanding Research Award
  • 2023 | North America Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture - Graduate Teaching Award  
  • 2019 | Oklahoma State University Outstanding Masters Student    
  • 2019 | North America Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture - Graduate Teaching Award

Work Experience

  • Graduate associate | Ohio State University
  • Director of marketing, communications, and outreach | Einstein School - Plano, Texas
  • Graduate teaching assistant | Oklahoma State University

Areas of Research

  • Agricultural and science communication
  • Layout and design
  • Agricultural literacy
  • Agricultural safety and health
  • Scholarship of teaching and learning

Publications

  1. Summerfield, E. D., Lawson, C. and LaGrande, L. (in press). Framing agricultural labor issues: an analysis of h-2a news coverage. Journal of Applied Communication.
  2. Summerfield, E. D., Volk, N., Specht, A. and Claflin, K. (in press). They don’t know 'diddly squat': an exploration of students’ knowledge and perceptions of agriculture through Clarkson’s Farm. Journal of Agricultural Education.

Department(s)