At CAFNR’s annual Celebration of Excellence award ceremony, Rebecca Mott received the 2026 Outstanding Mid-Career Teacher Award. Mott is an assistant professor of agricultural education with nearly three decades of teaching experience. 

“Rebecca began her PhD with us 10 years ago while working within Extension, but it did not take long to realize we needed her as part of our team,” said Jon Simonsen, professor and agricultural education and leadership program chair. 

Not only has Mott invested decades into teaching, but she has also spent that time investing in her students. 

“She pours into her students and takes the time to get to know who they are, their goals, strengths and challenges they face, while actively seeking opportunities to help them succeed on both a personal and professional level,” Abby Loesing, a 2025 agricultural education alumna, said. 

Jaron VanHouden, a graduate student in agricultural leadership, communication and education, said Mott’s mentorship has changed the course of his career path. 

“She helped me realize that research was something I truly enjoyed and wanted to pursue,” he said. “Because of her, I now plan to pursue a PhD and hope to one day have the same kind of impact on students that she has had on me.” 

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. This adage is how Mott describes her teaching philosophy. She specializes in helping students tackle complex, challenging work by breaking it into manageable parts and building skills incrementally. 

“Her influence goes far beyond teaching content,” VanHouden said. “She builds confidence, open doors and helps students see what they’re capable of.”