Font Size

content body

Two Auburn University College of Agriculture faculty members were recently recognized by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) for their outstanding commitment to excellence in agricultural education. 

Don Mulvaney, retired emeritus professor from the Department of Animal Sciences, received the 2026 NACTA Educator Award, while Carolyn Robinson, associate professor in the Department of Horticulture, received the 2026 NACTA Teaching Award of Excellence. 

Presented annually during the NACTA conference, the awards recognize faculty members who demonstrate exceptional teaching, student engagement and leadership in agricultural higher education. The NACTA Educator Award honors faculty who have demonstrated a consistent commitment to excellence in teaching and professional development, while the Teaching Award of Excellence recognizes educators who have distinguished themselves through outstanding classroom instruction and student mentorship. 

Mulvaney devoted his career to developing future leaders in agriculture through innovative teaching, experiential learning and leadership development. Mulvaney retired in October 2025 after teaching or developing more than 45 courses and playing a pivotal role in advancing leadership education within the College of Agriculture. His scholarship spans animal science, science communication, leadership development and the scholarship of teaching and learning, while his outreach efforts have strengthened leadership opportunities for Alabama's beef cattle industry through programs such as the Alabama Cattlemen's Association Young Cattlemen Leadership Program and the Alabama Beef Ambassador Program. 

Throughout his career, Mulvaney received numerous honors recognizing his impact on teaching and outreach, including the 2024 American Society of Animal Science Distinguished Teacher Award and Auburn University's Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach. 

Robinson, an associate professor of horticulture, is widely recognized for her student-centered approach to teaching and her research exploring the relationship between people and plants.  

Her teaching portfolio includes courses in floral design, landscape design, horticultural plant growth and development, careers in horticulture and public gardens management. Robinson's research focuses on the many ways horticulture improves quality of life, including the educational, emotional and community benefits of gardens and green spaces. 

The NACTA Teaching Award of Excellence adds to an impressive list of teaching accolades for Robinson, who previously received the Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science's J. Creighton Miller Jr. Distinguished Educator Award as well as Auburn's Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award and the College of Agriculture Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence. 

Founded in 1955, NACTA is a professional society dedicated to advancing excellence in postsecondary agricultural education. Through its annual awards program, the organization recognizes faculty members who exemplify outstanding teaching, educational innovation and service to students across colleges of agriculture throughout North America.