Steve R. Simmons

Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor/Professor Emeritus

Mailing Address

ssimmons@umn.edu

Education

Ph.D.: Minnesota (1977)

Year Appointed: 1977

Rank: Professor Emeritus

Photo of Steve Simmons

  • Areas of Interest

    Education and scholarship; case-based and experiential learning; approaches to enhancing personal reflection in education and faculty development, including memoir writing; ecology of diversified cropping systems.

  • Research

    Scholarship of case-based education, experiential learning strategies, and faculty development approaches that foster deeper reflection about teaching and learning. Exploration of novel pedagogical approaches including decision cases, experiential learning, mentoring and memoir writing.  Options for more diversified agroecosystems through consideration of biological, environmental and socio-economic factors.

  • Selected Publications

    Wiedenhoeft, M., S. Simmons, R. Salvador, G. McAndrews, C. Francis, J. King and D. Hole. 2003. Agroecosystems andalysis from the "grass roots": A multidimensional experiential learning course. J. Nat. Res. Life Sci. Educ. 32:73-79.

    Corselius, K., S.R. Simmons, and C.B. Flora. 2003. Farmer perspectives on cropping systems diversification in northwestern Minnesota. Agriculture and Human Values 20:371-383.

    Blissett, Hana, Steve Simmons, Nicholas Jordan, and Kristen Nelson. 2004. Evaulation of learning group approaches for fostering integrated cropping systems management. J. Nat. Res. Life Sci. Educ. 33:134-140.

    Simmons, S.R. 2004. "An imperishable attitude": A memoir of learning and teaching. J. Nat. Res. Life Sci. Educ. 33:147-154.

    Simmons, S., A. Dincesen, H. Murray, T. Dunrud, B. Buhr, and C. Angle. 2005. “Anybody’s dream”: A decision case of marketing alternative crops. J. Nat. Res. Life Sci. Educ. 34:29-35.

    Autrey, A., S. R. Simmons and R. Aikin. 2006. A blessing or a curse: An environmental decision case for secondary and higher education. J. Nat. Res. Life Sci. Educ. 35:26-33.

    Simmons, S. R. 2006. “A moving force”: A memoir of experiential learning. J. Nat. Res. Life Sci. Educ. 35:132-39.

    O’Donovan, K. and S. R. Simmons. 2006. Making meaning of a life in teaching:

    A memoir-writing project for seasoned faculty. To Improve the Academy 25:315-26.

    Simmons, S. R. 2007. “Amazing grace”: A memoir of mentoring. J. Nat. Res. Life Sci. Educ. 36:1-5.

    Simmons, S. R. 2008. Knowing Our Place and Time: Memoir as Pedagogy. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 37:1-5.

    McIntosh, M. S. and S. R. Simmons. 2008. A Century of Women in Agronomy: Lessons from Diverse Life Stories. Agronomy Journal (Centennial on-line issue of the American Society of Agronomy).