Bryan Hains (Ph.D., Youth Development and Agricultural Education, 2007) has been named a 2024 Purdue Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication Distinguished Alumnus.
Hains is a professor of community and agricultural education in the Department of Community and Leadership Development at the University of Kentucky. He teaches multiple graduate and undergraduate courses, and his research focuses on the intersection of human emotion and cognition and its impact on learning and development. Hains uses his expertise to enhance cultural and emotional intelligence at both individual and community levels. His background in teaching and learning allows him to apply research findings in multiple educational, community, and professional contexts.
Bryan Hains (Ph.D., Youth Development and Agricultural Education, 2007), is a professor of community and agricultural education in the Department of Community and Leadership Development at the University of Kentucky. As a first-generation college student, Hains earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education in 1999 and a master’s degree in Integrated Resource Management (2001) from Colorado State University. After graduation, he taught high school agriculture at Western High School in Russiaville, Indiana. While at Western, Hains was recruited to the Purdue doctoral program.
At Purdue, Hains secured a Ross Fellowship and taught several undergraduate courses in the departments of Youth Development and Agricultural Education and Curriculum and Instruction. As a result of his innovative instruction, Hains received College of Agriculture teaching awards and the Purdue Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award in 2007. He earned his doctorate in 2007.
Hains began his career at the University of Kentucky in 2007 and has continued his instructional excellence in this role. He received both the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching (2010) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Master Teaching Award (2019).
Hains uses learner-centered and experiential education methods as a catalyst to solidify student emotion and cognition regarding concepts associated with their academic development. A particularly innovative course Hains worked on included co-teaching a “Lyricism and Leadership” class with a local hip-hop artist. The course focused on highlighting societal issues while building community solidarity. Results from the course included three student-developed and produced, hip-hop albums with downloads and sales on three continents. Proceeds from the albums were given to local nonprofits that the participating students chose.
In addition to his teaching and research, Hains is the director and co-founder of the Community Innovation Lab at the University of Kentucky. In that role, he works with diverse scholars and community practitioners to examine and explore innovations in communities of place, interest, and practice.
As a result of his innovative research and instruction, Hains has consulted locally, nationally, and internationally. Currently, Hains collaborates with the Lexington, Kentucky, mayor’s office as a research consultant. He specifically works to address youth and young adult gun violence in the community.
Hains has published more than 30 peer-reviewed journal publications and received more than $5 million in extramural grants and professional contracts. He has served as the president of the Community Development Society and became a fellow of the Association of International Agricultural and Extension Education in 2023.
Hains said he is grateful for his time and training at Purdue and uses his memorable experiences to mentor the next generation of agricultural and community leaders.
The other 2024 ASEC Distinguished Alumni are Duane Huge and James G. Myers.
The awards presentation will be 2 p.m. Friday, October 18, in Creighton Hall of Animal Sciences, room 1042. All are welcome to attend the ceremony and the reception that follows.
