Levon Esters

Assistant Professor
Youth Development and Agricultural Education
Department of Curriculum & Instruction

Research

Career development theory and practice; career education; use of agriculture as a context for teaching and learning STEM; application of social cognitive career theory to diverse youth in urban life science educational contexts.

Education

Ph.D.	Pennsylvania State University, 2003, Agricultural and Extension Education
M.S.	North Carolina A&T State University, 2000, Agricultural Education
B.S.	Florida A&M University, 1995, Agricultural Business

Selected Publications

• Esters, L.T.  (2008).  Factors influencing the postsecondary education enrollment behaviors of urban agricultural education students.  Career and Technical Education Research, 32(2), 1-14.
  
  
• Esters, L.T.  (2008).  Influence of career exploration process behaviors on agriculture students’ level of career certainty.  Journal of Agricultural Education, 49(3), 23-34.
  
  
• Esters, L.T., & McCulloh, R.  (2008).  Career exploratory behaviors of postsecondary agriculture students.  Journal of Agricultural Education, 49(1), 1-11.
  

 

Courses Taught

 

EDCI 205A	Exploring Teaching as A Career
YDAE 319	Planning Agricultural Science and Business Programs

Professional Experience

2004- present	Assistant Professor – Youth Development and Agricultural Education, Purdue University,  West Lafayette, IN
2004- 2009	Assistant Professor - Agricultural Education, Department of Agricultural  Education and Studies, Iowa State University.
2000- 2003	Graduate Assistant – Agricultural and Extension Education, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Program Coordinator, Food and  Agricultural Sciences Institute.
1998-2000	Agricultural Education Instructor and Coordinator of Ag-Business Career Pathway, The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences.