Rate My Professor Chris Estepp

Christopher M. Estepp is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications, and Technology in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, contributing to the Agricultural and Veterinary Science faculty through his expertise in agricultural education. He earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from the University of Florida in 2012, an M.Ed. from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas in 2019, Estepp directed the agriculture teacher preparation program at Sul Ross State University from 2012 to 2019. His research specializations include teaching and learning in school-based agricultural education, professional development for teachers, curriculum development, pedagogy, assessment, student retention in colleges of agriculture, intercultural competence, self-efficacy in programming and instruction, use of artificial intelligence in education, sense of belonging, mentorship in agricultural education, diversity and inclusion in professional associations, teacher stress and job satisfaction, undergraduate research experiences, study abroad programs, and experiential learning in agriculture.

Estepp has authored or co-authored numerous publications, including highly cited works such as "Teacher immediacy and professor/student rapport as predictors of motivation and engagement" (NACTA Journal, 2015; 140 citations), "An experiential learning model of faculty development to improve teaching" (NACTA Journal, 2012; 80 citations), "An investigation into mentoring practices of faculty who mentor undergraduate researchers at a Hispanic serving institution" (Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 2017; 58 citations), and recent articles like "Using ChatGPT with novice Arduino programmers: Effects on performance, interest, self-efficacy, and programming ability" (Journal of Research in Technical Careers, 2024) and "Teachers’ Stress, Coping Strategies, and Job Satisfaction in COVID-induced Teaching Environments" (Journal of Agricultural Education, 2021; 47 citations). His scholarship has earned 864 citations on Google Scholar. Estepp has received major awards, including the 2026 APLU-USDA National Teaching Award for Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2024 Jack G. Justus Teaching Award, AAAE Southern Region Distinguished Teacher Educator (2023), multiple NACTA Journal Awards (2021, 2023, 2025), Bumpers College Dean's Award of Excellence for Early Career Faculty (2024), and selection for the national LEAD21 leadership program (2022-2023). He currently serves as the first Bumpers College Dean's Fellow leading the Razorback AgCademy and has held roles such as NACTA Secretary/Treasurer (2021-2022).