Angel Riggs received the Dick and Malinda Berry Fischer Award for Teaching Excellence at the Ferguson College of Agriculture Scholarships and Awards Banquet in March.

This award, created by Dick Fischer and his late wife, Malinda Berry Fischer, recognizes outstanding educators in agriculture and natural resources.

Riggs, a professor in the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership, has been at the university since 2011. A former journalist, Riggs’ classwork primarily focuses on teaching undergraduate agricultural communications students newswriting skills.

“Dr. Riggs works tirelessly in her classroom and with our students,” said Shane Robinson, department head for agricultural education, communications and leadership. “She constantly pushes them toward higher levels of success. She establishes a great rapport with her students, which is important on numerous levels.”

At OSU, Riggs teaches Writing for Agricultural Publications, Introduction to Agricultural Communications and Research Applications with Q Methodology, a course assisting graduate students transitioning to the role of professional researchers.

In her undergraduate agricultural communications courses, she prioritizes teaching basic journalistic principles — skills that are transferable no matter how technological advances change how news is distributed in the future.

Riggs entered the journalism field around the time the internet revolution began and successfully navigated it because of her strong foundation in reporting. That trait she hopes to pass to students.

“I can’t tell these students what the world is going to look like in 20 years,” Riggs said. “But I do know if they have a solid foundation in writing and interviewing and story development, that’s going to serve them well.”

Riggs understands many students may not pursue traditional media jobs but works to help them recognize the value of written communication skills. She taps into their passions for agriculture, while developing skills in writing, interviewing and reporting accurate and ethically sourced information. She hopes those skills will carry over into students’ professional careers.

“Success looks different for every student,” Riggs said. “There are many ways to define success for students. I can tell you one way is when they come back. They’ve been working for a while, and they return and say, ‘I am using what I learned in this program every day.’ To me, that goes a long way, ensuring we’re on the right track.”

At OSU, Riggs also supports the Cowboy Journal, serving as the co-teacher for the Ferguson College of Agriculture publication. The capstone course allows Riggs to work collaboratively and support students to develop long-form feature articles on current stories in the college.

“Dr. Riggs creates a classroom environment where students feel seen and supported,” said Cynda Clary, associate dean for academic programs. “She invests the time to understand who they are and helps them recognize their potential. Students leave her courses not only with stronger skills, but with greater confidence.”

As Riggs guides students throughout their degree path, she hopes to leave an equally impactful impression on them, as her professors did for her.

“I hope that they remember the things that I remember from my days in college, which is the mentorship,” Riggs said. “I don’t remember as many individual class periods, but I do remember how intentional professors were. I remember how much they poured into me. I hope my students remember that.”