Dr. Ben Swan

 

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Ben Swan was raised in a cattle ranching family in Templeton, California and was an active member in both 4H and FFA, graduating from Templeton High School in 1992. Swan earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering technology in 1997, then began his master’s degree in agricultural education and earned his teaching certificate in 1998, all at Cal Poly.

Swan taught agricultural mechanics courses at Ripon High School (1999-2002) in the central valley of California while living on and managing the 20 acre high school farm. At the conclusion of the second year of teaching, he completed his master’s degree and was encouraged to seek out a doctoral degree to become an agricultural teacher educator. At the completion of the third year of teaching at Ripon High School, Swan earned a graduate associate position to teach and complete research at Ohio State.

While earning his doctorate he taught credential courses to pre-service teachers, beginning in 2002 at Ohio State. After being awarded his doctorate, Swan spent four years at the University of Idaho developing their agricultural teacher education program from 2006-2010. Swan then returned to Cal Poly in the Fall of 2010, teaching the AgEd 410 and 522 courses and the BRAE 481 course.

Swan is a member of the California Agriculture Teacher’s Association (CATA) and the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE).

Swan and his wife, Melinda, live in Atascadero with their four sons: Blaze, Bo, Baxter, & Bearinger.