Tyson Sorenson Honored with USDA Early-Career Teaching Award

Tyson Sorensen, an assistant professor of agricultural education, was one of just three educators in the country recently recognized with an early-career teaching award from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Respected by his students, coworkers and the community, Sorensen is well deserving of this award, said Becki Lawyer, head of USU’s Department of Agricultural Systems, Technology and Education. Sorensen earned bachelor’s and master’s at Utah State University and completed a doctorate at Oregon State University. With a passion for agriculture and all the avenues it entails, Sorensen’s work reflects his love of preparing people to become agriculture teachers and leaders through the classes he teaches at Utah State University.

“Some of Tyson’s greatest characteristics as an educator are the enthusiasm and passion he exhibits daily,” Lawver said. “Whether he is teaching graduate or undergraduate students, mentoring young researchers or planning international learning experiences, Dr. Sorensen is an exceptional faculty member, whose passion is teaching! He serves the department and university in an exemplary fashion and has exceeded the expectations of a colleague.”

Sorensen was honored earlier this year with the 2020 College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year Award and has won regional awards for excellence in college and university teaching. Sorensen has been instrumental in creating a program that allows agricultural education students to complete portions of their student teaching experience in English at a high school in Italy. See more about Sorensen’s work preparing future agriculturalists and teachers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDe_QvpoMaw.