“Leading an Agriculture Focused Study Abroad Program: Part 2” with Dr. Becky Raulerson

The Toucan Abroad Podcast

Our final episode of Season 2 also wraps up our series chatting with faculty from universities around North America who led faculty-led programs in a variety of disciplines to Belize. This final episodes continues the focus on faculty led programs in Agriculture, the second largest economic sector in Belize.

In this episode, Dr. Becky Raulerson shares her perspective co-directing an agriculture focused program to Belize with Dr. Ricky Telg who we met in our previous episode. She gives us some background on herself and the work she does at the University of Florida and the key components of her study abroad program to Belize. She addresses the challenges that come with leading a study abroad program in terms of recruiting, financing, student and parent fears etc. She also delves into the impact that the study abroad program had on the students and gives advice to other faculty considering leading a study abroad program.

Becky Raulerson is a lecturer for the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication from Bonifay, Florida. Before joining the AEC team, Raulerson worked as a sales representative for Novartis Animal Health, a high school English teacher, the owner of a video production company and was most recently a research coordinator for the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center).

Raulerson is a two-time graduate of the department, earning her Bachelor of Science in agricultural education and communication specializing in agricultural communication, and her Master of Science in agricultural education. Currently, Raulerson is a full-time lecturer and part-time doctoral student. As a student, her research focus is effectively communicating issues and evaluating consumer perceptions in agriculture and natural resources. In addition to the classes Raulerson teaches, she co-led the department study abroad trip to Belize with Dr. Ricky Telg and co-leads the Costa Rica undergraduate study abroad with Dr. J.C. Bunch.

Thanks for listening and look out for Season 3 coming up in Spring 2020.