MSU Strengthens Agricultural Education with New Faculty and FFA Role

By Andi Anderson

The Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University is expanding its agricultural education efforts with the addition of two new members this fall. Dr. Jessica Toombs and Kevin Nugent have joined the team to advance teaching, research, and student engagement in agricultural education statewide.

Toombs has been appointed Assistant Professor in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education program. She brings extensive classroom and academic experience, having taught high school agriculture from 2011 to 2018 before earning her M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural Education at Oklahoma State University.

Most recently, she served as an Assistant Professor at Chico State University, where she was honored as Faculty of the Year in 2024 by the College of Agriculture.

At MSU, Toombs will prepare future agricultural educators while conducting research on supporting early career teachers. “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,” she said.

Joining her is Kevin Nugent, who assumes the new role of FFA Contest and Recognition Coordinator. A returning Spartan, Nugent earned his bachelor’s degree in Agriscience Education from MSU in 1999 and has spent more than two decades mentoring Michigan students for FFA competitions and activities.

His newly created position, funded through State of Michigan Public Act 120, is designed to enhance opportunities for agriscience students and educators.

“The goal is to provide meaningful experiences for students to expand on their knowledge of agriscience and natural resources,” Nugent said. “I am excited about the opportunity to work on these FFA activities from the other side.”

Together, Toombs and Nugent bring valuable expertise that will strengthen MSU’s agricultural education mission, preparing future educators and enriching the experiences of Michigan’s FFA students.

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