Katrina Swinehart Held

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Senior Lecturer, Department of Educational Studies

Biography

Katrina Swinehart Held, Ph.D. is a teacher educator and scholar whose work is grounded in experience across agricultural education, career-technical education, youth development, and teacher preparation. Before entering academia, she taught agricultural science education and advised an FFA chapter for five years. Since entering academia, she has taught courses to prepare traditionally certified and alternatively certified teachers for the K-12 classroom and supported aspiring educators for nonformal learning environments. These experiences shaped Dr. Swinehart Held’s scholarly work, which focuses on youth participatory action research, agricultural education, career-technical education, teacher preparation, and motivation in the learning environment. Her research examines how young people can meaningfully participate in the educational and research processes that affect their lives and communities. Across her teaching, research, and service, Katrina is committed to preparing educators who create student-centered, transformative learning experiences in both formal and nonformal educational settings.

Education

  • Ph.D., Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership, The Ohio State University, 2023
  • M.S., Agricultural Education, The Ohio State University, 2013
  • B.S., Agricultural Education – Teacher Preparation, The Ohio State University, 2011

Selected Publications

Academic Press, Book Chapter

  • Swinehart Held, K. A. (2025). "It's OK to be Human": Lessons learned under my desk. In R. Pope-Ruark & L. Skallerup Bessette (Eds.), Of Many Minds: Mental health and neurodiversity in higher education faculty and staff. Johns Hopkins University Press

Research Journal, Refereed Publications

  • Swinehart Held, K., & Bowling, A. M. (2026). Teacher perceptions of relatedness in school-based agricultural education: A mixed methods study. Advancements in Agricultural Development, 7(1), 18–31. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v7i1.663
  • Elrod, L. A., Leman, A. M., Griffith, A., Swinehart Held, K., & Martin, M. (2025). The Power is in the Process: Co-creating Participatory Action Research Spaces With Youth as True Partners. International Review of Qualitative Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/19408447251386495
  • Leman, A. M., Griffith, A. N., Swinehart Held, K., Martin, M. J., & Elrod, L. (2025). The impact of utilizing youth participatory action research to engage FFA members in cross-chapter collaboration. Journal of Agricultural Education, 66(1), Article 45. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v66i1.2609.
  • Swinehart, K. A. (2024, July & August). Theme Editor Remarks. Agricultural Education Magazine.
  • Gregg, C., Swinehart Held, K., Pulley, J., Jolliff, S., Kitchel, T., & Bowling, A. (2023). Teacher perceptions of administrator actions in COVID-19 and its impact on emotional exhaustion: A moderation analysis of teacher self-efficacy. Journal of Agricultural Education, 64(4). https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v64i4.95
  • Gregg, C., Swinehart Held, K. A., Pulley, J. (2023, November & December). Emotional Exhaustion & COVID-19. Agricultural Education Magazine, 96(3), 51.

Selected Presentations

  • Swinehart, K. A. Student Belonging and Engagement in Organizational Messaging: A Content Analysis of Career-Technical Student Organization Websites. American Association of Agricultural Educators Conference, St. Petersburg, FL. May 2026.
  • Leman, A. M., Martin, M. J., Griffith, A. N., Swinehart Held, K. A., Elrod, L. Exploring Agricultural Issues through Youth Participatory Action Research in FFA Cross-Chapter Collaboration. North Central Region American Association of Agricultural Educators Conference, Lafayette, IN. October 2025.
  • Swinehart, K. A., Bowling, A., Kitchel, T. (2024) "School-Based Agricultural Education Student Perceptions of their Motivation through Situated-Expectancy Value Theory." American Association of Agricultural Educators Conference, Manhattan, KS. May 2024.
  • Griffith, A., Leman, A., Swinehart Held, K., Elrod, L. (2024). [We] "not only developed as friends but as partners in this YPAR thing": Mechanisms in the Early Stages of a Cross-Chapter FFA YPAR Group. Society of Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL. April 2024.
  • Leman, A.; Griffith, A.; Swinehart Held, K., Elrod, L. (2023). The Impact of Using Youth Participatory Action Research to Empower FFA Members. North Central American Association of Agricultural Educators Annual Conference, Brookings, SD. September 2023.
  • Gregg, C., Swinehart Held, K., Pulley, J., Jolliff, S., Bowling, A., Kitchel T. (2022). Teacher perceptions of administrator actions in COVID-19 and its impact on emotional exhaustion: A moderation analysis of teacher self-efficacy. American Association for Agricultural Education Annual Conference, Oklahoma City, OK. May 2022.
  • Gregg, C., Swinehart Held, K., Pulley, J., Jolliff, S., Bowling, A., Kitchel T. (2022). Teacher perceptions of administrator actions in COVID-19 and its impact on emotional exhaustion: A moderation analysis of teacher self-efficacy. American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA. April 2022.
  • Bashir, S., Kitenge, E., Owusu-Antwi, G., Swinehart-Held, K., and Berry-West, W. Targeting the Curriculum in Non-Agricultural Courses as a Strategy to Enhance Labor Force Participation in Agriculture. Presented at Southern Economic Association. November 19-21, 2022. Fort Lauderdale, FL.
  • Owusu-Antwi, G. and Swinehart, K. Sustainable Farming: The Future for U.S. Agriculture Logic Model Approach. Presented at Southern Economic Association. November 19-21, 2022. Fort Lauderdale, FL.
  • Swinehart Held, K. (2022). Burnout: The educator crisis of 2021. Academy for Educational Studies Spring Annual Meeting, Charleston, SC, February 2022.
  • Swinehart Held, K. (2022). The testing barrier: Assisting students with licensure exams. Academy for Educational Studies Spring Annual Meeting, Charleston, SC, February 2022.
  • Swinehart Held, K. A., Bowling, A. M. (2021). School-Based agricultural education teachers' perceptions of supporting student relatedness. North Central American Association for Agricultural Education Annual Conference, Columbus, OH. October 2021.
  • Swinehart Held, K. A., Bowling, A. M. (2021). Teacher perceptions on relatedness within SBAE programs. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Conference, Online, June 2021.