Becki Lawver

Applied Sciences, Technology, & Education (ASTE)

Department Head, Professor | CTE, Ag Education, Leadership Education


Rebecca G. Lawver

Contact Information

Office Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Office Location: ASTE 105
Phone: 435-797-1254
Email: rebecca.lawver@usu.edu

Educational Background

PhD, Agricultural Education, (Teacher Education and Leadership), University of Missouri, 2009
Factors influencing agricultural education students’ choice to teach Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Robert M. Torres
MS, Master of Science in Leadership Education, University of Nebraska, 2007
Work and family life balance among secondary agricultural education instructors Thesis Advisor: Dr. Dann Husmann
BS, Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, University of Nebraska, 1996
Standard Teaching Certificate, Agriculture 7-12, Nebraska Educator's Certificate, 1997

Biography

Becki Lawver is a Professor of Agricultural Education and Department Head of the Applied Sciences, Technology, and Education Department.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Lawver's teaching interests include leadership, career and technical education, teacher preparation, curriculum development, and teaching methodology.

Research Interests

Dr. Lawver's research investigates the human interaction between education and society, specifically professional development of formal and non-formal educators in agricultural safety, STEM, Career and Technical Education, curriculum development, and leadership.

Graduate Student Mentoring Philosophy

In my capacity as a graduate mentor, I see myself as both a counselor and a facilitator of learning, embodying ethical conduct and fostering an environment of collaboration. Recognizing each student's individuality, I prioritize understanding their unique perspectives and experiences. This personalized approach, coupled with a commitment to adult learning principles, ensures that the guidance provided is relevant, timely, and inherently motivating.

I empower students to take charge of their learning journey, fostering autonomy, self-efficacy, and self-motivation. I believe in offering comprehensive support that addresses both academic and personal/professional development, nurturing well-being and resilience. Emphasizing lifelong learning, I stress the significance of curiosity, adaptability, and continuous growth beyond the classroom. Through promoting reflective practice and delivering constructive feedback, I enable students to learn from their experiences and consistently enhance their skills.

Drawing from my own positive experiences with mentors, I aim to pass on that guidance to my students. Valuing their unique experiences, I blend them with my own to collaboratively facilitate learning and exemplify effective mentoring. Ultimately, my objective is to cultivate a supportive and nurturing environment where students can excel academically, personally, and professionally.

Awards

AAAE Fellow, 2022

American Association for Agricultural Eduation

Top-10 Research Poster Submission, 2023

American Association for Agricultural Education

Utah FFA Blue and Gold Award, 2023

Utah FFA

Outstanding Research Presentation, 2019

Western Region American Association for Agricultural Education

People's Choice Award Research Poster, 2019

Western Region American Association for Agricultural Education

2019 ASABE Educational Aids Blue Ribbon Award, 2019

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

Outstanding Student Research Proposal, 2018

Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences.

Robins Award - Faculty University Service, 2017

Utah State University

Secondary Education Outstanding Supervisor, 2017

Utah State University, School of Teacher Education and Leadership

National Excellence in College and University Teaching Award, 2016

United States Department of Agriculture

Outstanding Early Career Member , 2016

Western Region American Association for Agricultural Education

Faculty University Service Award, 2016

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Post Secondary Teacher of the Year - Finalist, 2016

Association for Career and Technical Education

Post Secondary Teacher of the Year, 2016

Utah Association for Career and Technical Education

Distinguished Teaching Award, 2015

Western Region American Association for Agricultural Education

NACTA Educator Award, 2015

North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture

Honorary State FFA Degree, 2015

Utah FFA

Secondary Education Outstanding Supervisor, 2015

School of Teacher Education and Leadership

Robins Award - Undergraduate Faculty Advisor of the Year, 2014

Utah State University

1st Place Research Poster Presentation, Faculty Division, 2013

American Association for Agricultural Education

3rd Place Research Poster Presentation, Faculty Division, 2013

American Association for Agricultural Education

Undergraduate Faculty Advisor of the Year for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, 2013

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Undergraduate Faculty Advisor of the Year for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, 2013

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

1st Runner-Up Outstanding Article in the Journal of Agricultural Education Volume 52, 2012

Journal of Agricultural Education

2012 Distinguished Manuscript Award, 2012

American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference

3rd Place Innovative Idea Poster Presentation, Faculty Division , 2012

American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference

30 Minute Club Award, 2010

Utah Association of Agricultural Educators

1st Place Outstanding Research Poster Presentation, Faculty Division, 2010

American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference

2009 Distinguished Manuscript, 2009

American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference

Honorary State FFA Degree, 2005

Nebraska State FFA Association


    Publications | Book Chapters

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Curriculum

  • Lawver, R.G, Sorensen, T., (2016). Utah Agricultural Education Natural Resources Science I and II Curriculum Library. Utah State Board of Education *
  • Sorensen, T., Lawver, R.G, Lucas, M., Dutton, C., Dalling, C., (2016). Utah Curriculum for Agricultural Education. *
  • Warnick, B.K, Lawver, R.G, (2015). Utah Agricultural Education Agricultural Science I Curriculum Library. Utah State Office of Education Career and Technical Education *
  • Lawver, R.G, Warnick, B.K, (2015). Utah Agricultural Education Landscape Management Curriculum Library. Utah State Office of Education Career and Technical Education *
  • Warnick, B.K, Lawver, R.G, (2014). Utah Agricultural Education Agricultural Systems and Technology Curriculum Materials. Utah State Office of Education Career and Technical Education *
  • Gardner, A.C, Lawver, R.G, Warnick, B.K, (2014). Utah Agricultural Education Animal Science I Curriculum Materials. Utah State Office of Education Career and Technical Education *
  • Lawver, R.G, Robertson, B., Smith, K., Pressett, J., Grundy, J., Warnick, B.K, (2013). Utah Agricultural Education Agricultural Communication Curriculum Materials. Utah State Office of Education Career and Technical Education *
  • Nuttall, K., Warnick, B.K, Lawver, R.G, (2013). Utah Agricultural Education Veterinary Assisting Curriculum Materials. Utah State Office of Education Career and Technical Education *
  • Lawver, R.G, Warnick, B.K, (2012). Utah Agricultural Education Plant and Soil Science I Curriculum Materials. Utah State Office of Education *

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

Professional Journal

    Public or Trade Journal

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Publications | Technical Reports

    Research Reports

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Publications | Other

    Magazine/Trade Publications

    • Pate, M., Lawver, R.G, (2016). Engaging community members in "creating a culture of safety" for supervised agricultural experience. The Agricultural Education Magazine *
    • Lawver, R.G, Pate, M., (2016). Preparing students for risk assessment of worksites used for supervised agricultural experiences. The Agricultural Education Magazine *
    • Lawver, R.G, (2012). Blackshirts. The Columns. Finals Week Howl. . The Agricultural Education Magazine.
    • Lawver, R.G, Smith, A.R, (2011). Gotta get ‘em there first…Then, let’s worry about keeping ‘em. The Agricultural Education Magazine.
    • Lawver, R.G, (2011). Half the battle. The Agricultural Education Magazine.

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Teaching

    ASTE 7600 - The Professoriate, Summer 2023
    ASTE 6180 - Administration and Leadership, Fall 2022
    ASTE 6360 - History, Philosophy, and Policy Development in Career and Technical Education, Summer 2021
    ASTE 6180 - Administration and Leadership, Fall 2020
    CEAS 5700 - Continuing Education Unit: Special Topics in Applied Sciences, Technology and Education, Summer 2020
    ASTE 3100 - Personal and Team Leadership, Spring 2020
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Fall 2019
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2019
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2019
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2019
    ASTE 6380 - Mentoring and Supervision, Fall 2019
    TEE, ASTE 4400, 4150 - Methods of Teaching Engineering and Technology Education II, Fall 2019
    CEAS 5700 - Continuing Education Unit: Special Topics in Applied Sciences, Technology and Education, Summer 2019
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2019
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2019
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2019
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2019
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2019
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2019
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2019
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Spring 2019
    ASTE 3100 - Personal and Team Leadership, Spring 2019
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Fall 2018
    ASTE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2018
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2018
    ASTE 4150 - Methods of Teaching Agriculture, Fall 2018
    TEE 4400 - Methods of Teaching Engineering and Technology Education II, Fall 2018
    CEAS 5700 - Continuing Education Unit: Special Topics in Applied Sciences, Technology and Education, Summer 2018
    ASTE 6220 - Volunteer Programs and Partnerships, Summer 2018
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2018
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2018
    ASTE 3300 - Clinical Experience in Agricultural Education, Spring 2018
    ASTE 3100 - Personal and Team Leadership, Spring 2018
    ASTE 5500 - Agricultural Education Secondary Curriculum Seminar, Fall 2017
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Fall 2017
    ASTE 3300 - Clinical Experience in Agricultural Education, Fall 2017
    ASTE 6380 - Mentoring and Supervision, Fall 2017
    ASTE, TEE 4150, 4400 - Methods of Teaching Agriculture, Fall 2017
    CEAS 5700 - Continuing Education Unit: Special Topics in Applied Sciences, Technology and Education, Summer 2017
    CEAS 5700 - Continuing Education Unit: Special Topics in Applied Sciences, Technology and Education, Summer 2017
    CEAS 5700 - Continuing Education Unit: Special Topics in Applied Sciences, Technology and Education, Summer 2017
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2017
    ASTE 3300 - Clinical Experience in Agricultural Education, Spring 2017
    ASTE 6450 - Graduate Topics in Agricultural Education, Spring 2017
    ASTE 3100 - Personal and Team Leadership, Spring 2017
    ASTE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2016
    ASTE 4150 - Methods of Teaching Agriculture, Fall 2016
    TEE 4400 - Methods of Teaching Engineering and Technology Education II, Fall 2016
    ASTE 5550 - Continuing Education in Agricultural Education, Summer 2016
    ASTE 5550 - Continuing Education in Agricultural Education, Summer 2016
    ASTE 6220 - Volunteer Programs and Partnerships, Summer 2016
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Spring 2016
    ASTE 3300 - Clinical Experience in Agricultural Education, Spring 2016
    ASTE 3100 - Personal Leadership in Agriculture, Spring 2016
    ASTE 5500 - Agricultural Education Secondary Curriculum Seminar, Fall 2015
    ASTE 5630 - Agricultural Education Student Teaching in Secondary Schools, Fall 2015
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2015
    ASTE 6380 - Mentoring and Supervision, Fall 2015
    ASTE 4150 - Methods of Teaching Agriculture, Fall 2015
    TEE 4400 - Methods of Teaching Engineering and Technology Education II, Fall 2015
    ASTE 6450 - Graduate Topics in Agricultural Education, Summer 2015
    ASTE 5500 - Agricultural Education Secondary Curriculum Seminar, Spring 2015
    ASTE 3620 - Managing the FFA and SAE Programs, Spring 2015
    ASTE 3100 - Personal Leadership in Agriculture, Spring 2015
    ASTE 3900 - Special Problems in Agricultural Systems Technology and Education, Spring 2015
    ASTE 5500 - Agricultural Education Secondary Curriculum Seminar, Fall 2014
    ASTE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2014
    ASTE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2014
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2014
    ASTE 2710 - Orientation to Agriculture Education, Fall 2014
    ASTE 5550 - Continuing Education in Agricultural Education, Summer 2014
    FCSE 6220 - Volunteer Programs and Partnerships, Summer 2014
    ASTE 5500 - Agricultural Education Secondary Curriculum Seminar, Spring 2014
    ASTE 3620 - Managing the FFA and SAE Programs, Spring 2014
    ASTE 3100 - Personal Leadership in Agriculture, Spring 2014
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2013
    ASTE 4150 - Methods of Teaching Agriculture, Fall 2013
    TEE 4400 - Methods of Teaching Engineering and Technology Education II, Fall 2013
    ASTE 2710 - Orientation to Agriculture Education, Fall 2013
    FCSE 6380 - Supervision and Mentoring, Fall 2013
    ASTE 6160 - Foundations of Adult Education and Program Evaluation, Summer 2013
    ASTE 5500 - Agricultural Education Secondary Curriculum Seminar, Spring 2013
    ASTE 3620 - Managing the FFA and SAE Programs, Spring 2013
    ASTE 3100 - Personal Leadership in Agriculture, Spring 2013
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2012
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2012
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2012
    ASTE 2710 - Orientation to Agriculture Education, Fall 2012
    FCSE 6220 - Volunteer Programs and Partnerships, Summer 2012
    ASTE 5500 - Agricultural Education Secondary Curriculum Seminar, Spring 2012
    ASTE 3100 - Leadership Applications in Agricultural Science, Management and Development, Spring 2012
    ASTE 3620 - Managing the FFA and SAE Programs, Spring 2012
    ASTE 3620 - Managing the FFA and SAE Programs, Spring 2012
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2011
    ASTE 2710 - Orientation to Agriculture Education, Fall 2011
    FCSE 6380 - Supervision and Mentoring, Fall 2011
    ASTE 6160 - Foundations of Adult Education and Program Evaluation, Summer 2011
    ASTE 6450 - Graduate Topics in Agricultural Education, Summer 2011
    ASTE 5500 - AGED SEC CURR SEM, Spring 2011
    ASTE 5630 - AGED STUDENT TEACH, Spring 2011
    ASTE 3100 - LEADERSHIP APPL IN AG, Spring 2011
    ASTE 3620 - MANAGE FFA/SAE PROG, Spring 2011
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2010
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2010
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2010
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2010
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2010
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2010
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2010
    FCSE 6320 - Classroom Management, Student Motivation, and Guidance, Fall 2010
    ASTE 4300 - Clinical Experience II in Agricultural Education, Fall 2010
    ASTE 2710 - Orientation to Agriculture Education, Fall 2010

    Graduate Students Mentored

    Vikki Masters, Ag Systems Technology Ed, June 2018
    Oakley Perry, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2019 - May 2021
    Erica Louder, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2019 - December 2020
    Bailey Paxman, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2017 - May 2019
    Franscisca Pena, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2017 - May 2019
    Kisia Weeks, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2017 - May 2019
    Aleigh Aurin, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2017 - May 2019
    Jacob Woolstenhulme, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2017 - May 2019
    Cheyenne Reid, Ag Systems Technology Ed, January 2017 - May 2019
    Emily Tobler, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2016 - December 2018
    Pamela Pierson, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2015 - December 2017
    Jason Reeve, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2015 - May 2017
    Jess Shaffer, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2015 - May 2017
    Jonathan Burton, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2015 - May 2017
    Trevor Atkinson, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2015 - May 2017
    Amy Peterson, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2014 - December 2016
    Cathy Merrill, Ag Systems Technology Ed, January 2013 - December 2016
    Emily Shepperd, Ag Systems Technology Ed, January 2013 - December 2016
    Jeanine David, Ag Systems Technology Ed, May 2014 - May 2016
    Taylor Adams, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2011 - December 2015
    Kristin Sittner, Ag Systems Technology Ed, January 2013 - May 2015
    Kristina Gowans, Ag Systems Technology Ed, July 2012 - December 2013
    Dalene Burch, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2011 - May 2013
    Sara Vandenbos, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2010 - August 2012
    Kasee Smith, Ag Systems Technology Ed, August 2010 - May 2012
    Megan Haslam, Ag Systems Technology Ed, June 2010 - May 2012