Amy Desaulniers and Renee McFee, educators in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, are receiving high honors from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. Desaulniers is receiving the 2026 NACTA Educator Award, and McFee is receiving the NACTA Teaching Scholar Award, recognizing their excellence in postsecondary agricultural education.
The NACTA Educator Award recognizes faculty who demonstrate outstanding teaching, student engagement and a commitment to advancing agricultural education. The NACTA Teaching Scholar Award salutes a past NACTA Educator Award recipient who demonstrates instructional excellence, involvement with NACTA, and teaching influence beyond their own campus.
Desaulniers is an associate professor of reproductive physiology with the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (SVMBS). McFee is the coordinator for the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine, a cooperative educational program between the university and Iowa State University.
Desaulniers and McFee are heavily involved in SVMBS’s instructional mission by co-teaching the Animal Physiology I and II, foundational courses for Animal Science graduate and veterinary medicine students.
Nominated by colleagues within IANR, Desaulniers and McFee were selected following a national review process. Recipients are chosen for their dedication to student success, innovation in the classroom and contributions to the broader agricultural education community.
“I’m incredibly honored to receive the NACTA Educator Award,” Desaulniers said. “Working with students who are passionate about agriculture and natural resources is what drives me every day. It’s a privilege to be part of their journey and to help prepare the next generation of leaders in our industry.”
McFee said, “This award is especially meaningful because it recognizes teaching as a scholarly endeavor. As a faculty member in CASNR, I value the opportunity to connect foundational science with authentic professional applications. Watching students grow more skilled at reasoning through complex scenarios is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching.”
Desaulniers’ work reflects IANR’s commitment to preparing future leaders in agriculture, natural resources and related fields through high-impact teaching and mentorship.
“We are proud to congratulate Dr. Amy Desaulniers, recipient of the NACTA Educator Award, and Dr. Renee McFee, named a NACTA Teaching Scholar,” said Tom Burkey, professor of non-ruminant nutrition and interim dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. “These honors recognize excellence in teaching and a deep commitment to advancing student learning through impactful engagement and innovative, scholarly approaches.”
The instructional approaches the two faculty members pursue “exemplify CASNR’s mission to empower learners to innovate, create and discover, preparing the next generation of leaders to address complex challenges in agriculture and beyond,” Burkey said.
Desaulniers and McFee will be formally recognized during the NACTA Awards Luncheon at the organization’s annual conference, scheduled for June 24 in Mississippi.
These NACTA awards honor individuals across North America who excel in agricultural instruction and inspire the next generation of professionals in the field.
