About
Howard Heavner is a Lecturer in the College of Agricultural Systems and Education at Southern Illinois University (SIU). He earned his B.S. in Agricultural Education from Western Illinois University (1982), M.S. in Agricultural Education and Mechanization from SIU (1986), and Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences from SIU (2018). His expertise spans school-based agricultural education, FFA leadership events, and program quality assessment.
- B.S.: Agricultural Education, Western Illinois University (1982)
- M.S.: Agricultural Education and Mechanization, Southern Illinois University (1986)
- Ph.D.: Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University (2018)
Dr. Heavner’s research focuses on agricultural education systems, including career development, parliamentary procedure, and sustainable production techniques like greenhouse and aquaculture operations. His recent work examines workforce shortages in secondary agricultural education and their implications for program quality.
His publications include studies on instructor licensing challenges in Illinois, which analyze policy impacts and vocational training frameworks. These works highlight critical gaps in agricultural workforce development.
- 2018 Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Heavner teaches courses such as AGSE 110 (Introduction to Agricultural Education), AGSE 170 (Agricultural Technology), and AGSE 311a (Career Development Events). He also serves as Parliamentarian for the Illinois FFA Convention since 2017 and previously held leadership roles in agricultural education organizations.
