Dr. Robert Torres is a professor of Agricultural Education, Technology and Innovation and holds the Neely Family Endowed Professorship in the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Arizona. He graduated from New Mexico State University with his bachelors and masters degree in Agricultural and Extension Education. His Ph.D. degree is from The Ohio State University in Agricultural Education. A former high school agriculture instructor in Willcox, Arizona, Bobby spent nine years as a teacher educator at New Mexico State University and eight years at the University of Missouri before arriving to the University of Arizona in June, 2010.

He has taught/teaches undergraduate courses in teaching methodologies, team and organizational leadership, and graduate courses in research methodologies, program evaluation, and data analysis and interpretation. Teaching awards and recognitions include the prestigious USDA Excellence in College and University Teaching award, Western Region AAAE Distinguished Teaching Award, The University of Missouri (MU) William T. Kemper Fellow for Excellence in Teaching, College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Teaching Academy Fellow (MU), NMSU Faculty Achievement Award, the NACTA Teaching Award of Merit, the Outstanding New Member of the American Association of Agricultural Education, and the University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Award, among others. Most recently, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for Agricultural Education and the University of Arizona, College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences Bart Cardon Teaching Fellow.

With over 100 refereed publications to his name, he conducts research in the areas of teaching and learning within agricultural education. Dr. Torres has earned several recognitions for the quality of his research including the Journal of Agricultural Education - Author of the Year Award, the Outstanding Article Award for the Journal of Vocational Education Research, the Jack Everly Journal Award – NACTA Journal, and several research presentation awards at the regional and national level of the American Association for Agricultural Education. Most recently, he was recognized with the Western Region AAAE Distinguished Research Award. Bobby also has served as a consultant to the National FFA Organization Board of Directors and was a member of the FFA Board of Trustees. He currently serves on the Arizona State Board Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education and is a member of the Arizona Agricultural Education/FFA Foundation Board.

Educational Background

Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Doctor of Philosophy
Major: Agricultural Education

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Master of Science
Major: Agricultural and Extension Education
 
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor of Science
Major: Agricultural and Extension Education

Classes Taught

AED 295B, Heritage and Traditions of the University of Arizona

ALC 409/509, Team and Organizational Leadership

AED 617, Research, Methods, and Project Design

Publications

DeKoker, T., Mars, M. M., Torres, R. M., & Quist, T. M. (2018). Wild greens knowledge and consumption: A qualitative exploration of human agency in the Southern Arizona food system. Food, Culture & Society: An International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 21(3), 331-349. doi:10.1080/15528014.2018.1451040

Jeffers-Sample, A., Mars, M. M., Rice, A. M., & Torres, R. M. (2018). Examining the Entrepreneurial Leadership Propensities of Extension Educators. Journal of Extension, 56(6 Article 6FEA4).

Mars, M. M., & Torres, R. M. (2018). Developing collegiate student proclivities to entrepreneurial leadership.  Journal of Leadership Education, 17(4), 110-129. doi:10.12806/V17/I4/R7

Cubillas, S., Mars, M. M., Torres, R. M., & Sias, P. M. (2017). Tourist Authenticity and Value Co-Creation: An Exploration of Two Local Wineries in Southeastern Arizona, USA. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 12(1), 34-54.

Zamudio, J. M., Mars, M. M., & Torres, R. M. (2016). A Qualitative Exploration of Entrepreneurial Learning among Southern Arizona Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers (33%). Journal of Extension, 54(2).

Torres, R. M., & Vincent, S. K. (2015). Multicultural competence: A case study of teachers and their student perceptions. Journal of Agricultural Education, 52(2), 11. doi:10.5032/jae.2015.02064

Mars, M. M., & Torres, R. M. (2014). Enhancing Agricultural Leadership Education through the Inclusion of Entrepreneurial Principles and Practices. NACTA Journal, 58(4), 284-289.

Lorenzen, C. L., Henderson, M. K., Savage, K. L., & Torres, R. M. (2013).Impact of adding food defense to three different undergraduate curriculums.  NACTA Journal, 57(2), 68-71.

Lambert, M. D., & Torres, R. M. (2012). Student Satisfaction and Self‐Efficacy in a Teaching Methods Course by Treatment. NCATA Journal.

Lambert, M. D., Torres, R. M., & Tummons, J. (2012). The influence of time management practices on job stress level among beginning secondary agriculture teachers. Journal of Agricultual Education, 53(1), 45-56.

Lawver, B., & Torres, R. M. (2012). An analysis of agricultural education students choice to teach. Journal of Agricultural Education, 52(2).

Lawver, B., & Torres, R. M. (2011). Determinants of pre-service students' choice to teach secondary agricultural education. Journal of Agricultural Education, 52(1), 61-67.

McKim, B. R., & Torres, R. M. (2011). Perceptions of missouri 4-H youth development personnel regarding interorganizational cooperative behavior. Journal of Extension, 49(4).

McKim, B. R., Rutherford, T. A., Torres, R. M., & Murphy, T. H. (2011). Organizational climate of the American Association for Agricultural Education. Journal of Agricultural Education, 52(3), 87-99.

McKim, B. R., Smith, A. R., & Torres, R. M. (2011). An Investigation Of Missouri Secondary Agriculture Teachers: Perceptions Regarding Interorganizational Cooperative Behavior. Journal of Agricultural Education, 51(5), 118-130.

Aschenbrener, M., Terry, R., & Torres, R. M. (2010). Creative and effective teaching behaviors of university instructors.. Journal of Agricultual Education, 51(3), 64-75.

Lambert, M. D., Lawver, R. G., & Torres, R. M. (2010). Secondary agricultural education teachers in North Carolina: Forecasting underlying work-related job-stress levels. Journal of Southern Agricultural Education Research, 60(2), 52-66.

McKim, B. R., & Torres, R. M. (2010). Using case-scenarios to determine the perceptions of secondary agriculture teachers and 4-H youth development personnel regarding interorganizational cooperation. Journal of Agricultual Education, 51(4), 94-105.

Torres, R. M., Lambert, M., & Lawver, B. (2010). Predicting Secondary Agriculture Teachers Job Stress from Selected Personal, Family, and Work-Related Characteristics. Career and Technical Education Research, 35(2), 65-79.