Learning Community Award of Excellence

Dr. Shannon Norris-Parish - Academic and Research

Dr. Shannon Norris Parish is an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at Texas A&M University. 

As a science communicator, she strives to help audiences understand the basics of food, fiber, and natural sciences. Her research investigates the role of agriculture in national security. Guided by enhancing stakeholder agricultural literacy, her efforts support establishing a safe, secure, and stable food supply. She graduated from Texas A&M with her Ph.D. in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications. For her doctoral dissertation, she developed a curricular framework for the U.S. Army Special Forces to use when conducting agricultural assessments in conflict zones. She is a Ziglar-certified speaker and trainer, and before joining the faculty at Texas A&M, she was an assistant professor at New Mexico State University.

Lourdes Mederos - Media Relations and Writing

She serves the coastal stretch of Southeast Florida, promoting the research, expertise, and programs of scientists and faculty at three research centers and Extensions across six counties. She provides strategic media relations, crisis communications, and branding support. These research centers and Extensions combined serve a demographically diverse population of more than eight million residents and countless visitors, contributing to a thriving tourism industry.

She also leads the award-winning UF/IFAS Statewide Spanish Media Outreach Initiative, branding UF/IFAS by strategically planning, implementing, developing, and distributing content to Spanish-speaking media and consumers.

Lourdes' 30-year career began with 11 years as a bilingual journalist covering higher education, healthcare, environment, government, and Hispanic communities, mainly at the Tampa Tribune but also at the Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, and St. Petersburg Times. She also worked briefly at the Wall Street Journal early in her career.

The remainder of her career has focused on specialized areas of public relations, where she served as a public information officer, associate director of public affairs, and corporate communications manager. In these roles, she implemented strategic media relations, crisis communications, brand development, and corporate communications for healthcare, higher education and government entities.

A two-time graduate of the University of South Florida, Lourdes has made the sun and fun of the Sunshine State her passion. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, cooking, and sharing her favorite Latin dishes and typical Spanish tapas with friends and family. Besides being a foodie, Lourdes enjoys salsa dancing, hiking, kayaking, and relaxing on the family pontoon boat while exploring Florida’s waterways. Finding new adventures makes life that much sweeter, especially when she can share a good story.

ACE Rising Star Award 

Aaron Alexander

Aaron Alexander is the Strategic Digital Content Manager for UF/IFAS Communications. He is responsible for developing and executing account strategy and overseeing content creation for the organization's flagship social media channels. As part of this role, he manages a talented team of content producers whose skills make him look like an award-winning communicator. Aaron also serves as an educational resource for all UF/IFAS communicators and agents.

Before UF/IFAS, he worked in higher-ed marketing and as a freelance digital marketer supporting agriculture-related businesses and organizations.

Aaron joined ACE in 2022. He was an ACE mentorship program participant and has since served on several planning committees for other ACE initiatives.

Aaron graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor's in both marketing and entrepreneurship. He and his wife have been married for nearly 10 years. Outside of work, you will find him in his garden or cheering on one of the many teams who disappoint him year after year.