About Matt Kreifels:
After graduating from UNL with a degree in agricultural education (2001), I taught high school agricultural education for nine years in Blair, Nebraska, averaging over 250 students per year in my classes. After earning my Master’s of Science in Education from Wayne State College, I joined our UNL teacher preparation team in the ALEC Department. I’m currently working on a Ph.D. in Human Sciences with a specialization in Leadership. My wife, Sarah, and I grew up in Syracuse, Nebraska and have since moved back home with our three children.
What is your position at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln?
I am an Associate Professor of Practice in Agricultural Education in the Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication Department. I help to prepare future high school agriculture teachers in our undergraduate program and also work to support current teachers in the 189 Nebraska schools that offer agricultural education and FFA through professional development and special projects.
What drew you to the University of Nebraska—Lincoln?
During the time I was teaching at Blair High School I immersed myself in professional development opportunities focused on how to engage students using agricultural content. I also served on several national and statewide projects that resulted in new curriculum and support materials for agriculture teachers. I quickly found that I enjoyed helping other teachers become better at their craft. When UNL was looking to add a person to their agriculture teacher preparation program in 2010, I felt it was a natural fit for my talents and passions.
What aspect of working in an educational setting do you enjoy the most?
To me, the relationships we build with students and stakeholders are the best thing about working at UNL and IANR. The most rewarding thing about my job is getting to truly know our undergraduate pre-service teachers through our preparation program, help them navigate the hiring process, and then finally become colleagues with them as in-service teachers. Our department has an extraordinarily tight connection to our graduates based on the in-service teacher professional development we offer them throughout their career as a teacher.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
This is a difficult question to answer. The individual impact and relationships that I’ve been able to develop with students are what I value most. Additionally, since starting at UNL in 2010, I have been able to assist over 60 high schools in starting an agricultural education program (and accompanying FFA chapters). This represents a 43% increase in agriculture programs during that timeframe. It’s both exciting and rewarding to see so many of our graduates leading these program and filling vacancies across the state.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
When I was an 8th grader I did not want to enroll in an agriculture course the following year. I grew up on a farm where we raised SPF breeding gilts, corn and soybeans, but didn’t think that my future career would involve agriculture at the time. My dad told me that I had to take at least one semester of agriculture as a freshman and that I could decide after that if it was a fit for me. Sometimes dads know best!
What is your life like outside of work?
It’s busy! My children are in the prime of their school careers, as Madison is a sophomore, Jack is a 7th grader and Carter is in 4th grade. Each is extremely active in school and activities that keep Sarah and I moving. When layering my Ph.D. program on top of the rest of our life, it’s been important for me to be sure to carve out time to enjoy this phase of our lives.