Megan Seibel

Since 2011, Dr. Megan Seibel has served as the inaugural director of the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results ( VALOR) Program at Virginia Tech, which is dedicated to  fostering leadership and capacity building for Virginia’s largest private industries.  As a Senior Extension Specialist, Dr. Seibel offers experiential program content around leadership best practices in education, workplace, and grassroots organizational settings and leads training content around facilitation and strategic planning. She promotes stakeholder development and advocacy as outcomes of decision-making and problem-solving leadership around complex issues.

Dr. Seibel is Director and Co-Founder for the Center for Cooperative Problem Solving (CCPS) at Virginia Tech and an Associate Fellow of the Occupational Research Centre in the U.K. In that capacity, Dr. Seibel utilizes the KAI with coaching of educational supervisors, practitioners, community leaders, and student organizations to enhance effectiveness in program and service delivery.  

From October 2016 and January 2018, Dr. Seibel took administrative leave from the university to serve as Virginia Associate, then Deputy, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry in the Office of the Governor. During that time, she oversaw industry studies and development of proposed policy for the secretariat, while supporting food and health related initiatives.She is a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Her background and expertise in healthcare, career and technical education, and outreach educational programming invigorate her passion for community development and considering complex issues that incorporate all three of these paradigms. A co-author on numerous publications related to leadership and community programs, Dr. Seibel uses scholarship as a way to bring ideas to life through practical application.   

Megan received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from James Madison University, her Master of Science in Career and Technical Education from Virginia Tech, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Extension Education from Virginia Tech.

Ph.D., Agricultural and Extension Education, 2012, Virginia Tech
M.S., Career and Technical Education, 2007, Virginia Tech
B.S.N., Nursing, 1996, James Madison University

Awards and Recognition

• Outstanding International Leadership Program Director, International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leaders (2024)
• CALS Award for Outreach Excellence (2024)
• Honorary American FFA Degree (National Officer Parent), National FFA Organization, 2023 and 2020 (first sister and brother, respectively, in history)
• Excellence in Teamwork: Building Your Virtual Facilitation Skills, NACDEP (2022)
• Outstanding Recent Alumni – Graduate, CALS/VTAA (2020)
• Outstanding Recent Alumni – Academia, ALCE (2020)
• Robin Orr Outstanding Practitioner, Association of Leadership Education (2019)
• Outstanding Woman in Agriculture, Virginia Farm Bureau (2019)
• Outstanding Research Paper, American Association for Agricultural Education (2018)
• Distinguished Team, Epsilon Sigma Phi Alpha Gamma Chapter (2018)
• Excellence in Teen Programming, VAE4-HA (2018)
• Leadership Alumni Award, Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education, Virginia Tech (2018)
• Fellow, Virginia Executive Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University (2017)
• Distinguished Innovative Practice Poster, Association of Leadership Educators (2016)
• Eisenhower Fellow, Agriculture, USA Alternate Fellow (2015)
• Nominee, 100 Fresh Perspectives, National Farm Credit Foundation (2015)
• Farm Mom of the Year, Southeast Region, America’s Farmers (2015)
• Outstanding Post-Secondary Adult Program (VALOR), National Association of Agricultural Education (2015)
• Outstanding Post-Secondary Adult Program (VALOR), Virginia Association of Agricultural Education (2015)
• Outstanding Practice Paper, International Leadership Association (2013).
• Honorary American FFA Degree (2013)
• Outstanding Dissertation, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Virginia Tech (2013)
• Warren Beach Award for Exemplary Lifetime service to Young Farmers (2012)

Administrative Positions

• Director, VALOR
• Director and Co-Founder, Center for Cooperative Problem Solving
• Senior Extension Specialist, Leadership and Decision Making
   

Professional Affiliations

• International Advisory Board ex-officio member, KAI Foundation (2022-present)
• Virginia Wine Board, Gubernatorial Appointee and current Chair (2019- present)
• Roanoke County Farm Bureau President (2017-present)
• Community Leadership and Civic Engagement Program Team member, Virginia Cooperative Extension (2014-present)
• Associate Fellow; Occupational Research Centre, UK (2013-present)
• Commission on Academic and Professional Faculty Affairs (CAPFA), Extension Rep (2021-2024)
• Committee on Outreach and International Affairs (COIA), Extension Rep (2021-2024)
• Program Review Panel, Washington AgForestry Leadership Program, (2023)
•  A/P Faculty Senate (2022)
• Agricultural Technology Instructor Search Committee (2021)
• VT CALS/VCE Strengthening Partnerships and Collaborations Committee (2020)
• External Review Committee, Agricultural Technology Program, CALS (2019)

Sullivan, A., Sunderman, H., McCain, K., Seibel, M. (2026). Implementing and Evaluating Narrative Leader Identity Mapping in a Professional Agricultural Leadership Program. Association of Leadership Educators Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Cletzer, A., Gokham, I., Hastings, L., Kaufman, E., Rosch, D., Seibel, M. (2026). The Good, the Bad, and the Misused: Personality Assessments in Leadership Development. Association of Leadership Educators Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Seibel, M. (2026). Is tailoring for cognitive diversity the answer to successful [small medium-size enterprise] SME recruitment? CME Today. Retrieved from https://www.smetoday.co.uk/news/is-tailoring-for-cognitive-diversity-the-answer-to-successful-sme-recruitment/

Collier, A., Seibel, M., Ryall, K., Jenkins, I. (2026). Maximizing work and wellbeing with your authentic style. International KAI Symposium. Virtual.

Coartney, J., & Seibel, M. (2025). Planting seeds: Ripple effects of bridging resources and community leadership. Engagement Scholarship Consortium. Roanoke, VA.  

Tyler-Mackey, C., Seibel, M., & Tate, S. (2025). Connect, convene, and collaborate: Tools for effective community-engagement meetings. Engagement Scholarship Consortium. Roanoke, VA.  

Seibel, M., Coartney, J., Kaufman, E., Friedel, C., Westfall-Rudd, D., White, A., & Carmichael, C. (2025). Building leadership capacity: Digital badges as a tool for workforce development. Association of Leadership Educators Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.

Fox, C. & Seibel, M. (2025). Attracting and retaining skilled healthcare staff. International Hospitals & Healthcare Review. 44-48. Retrieved from https://www.itij.com/latest/long-read/attracting-and-retaining-skilled-healthcare-staff

Seibel, M. (2025). Industry voice: Is a holistic approach the answer to the retention crisis. Hospitals & Healthcare Review. Retrieved from https://www.itij.com/latest/long-read/industry-voice-holistic-approach-answer-retention-crisis

Kaufman, E., & Seibel, M. (2025). Authorize yourself to lead. Virginia Cooperative Extension Annual Winter In-Service. Blacksburg, VA.

Seibel, M. (2024). Vanguards. The HR Director, (242), 32-33. Retrieved from   https://www.thehrdirector.com/free-online-reader/

Seibel, M. (2024). How to lead with questions in cognitively diverse ways. Management-Issues.com. Retrieved from https://www.management-issues.com/

Seibel, M. (2024). Engaging and retaining leaders in future workforce preparation: Insights from agricultural HR experts. AWT for Collaborative Leadership. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/awt/blog?authuser=0

Seibel, M. (2024). When work makes us sick. Workplace Wellbeing Professional. Retrieved from https://workplacewellbeing.pro/analysis/megan-seibel-when-work-makes-us-sick/

Elliott-Engel, J., Westfall-Rudd, D. M., Kaufman, E., Seibel, M., & Radhakrishna, R. (2024). State administrators’ perspectives on the environmental factors facing cooperative extension. Journal of Agricultural Education, 65(2), 322-345. doi:10.5032/jae.v65i2.161

Seibel, M., Kaufman, E., Cletzer, D. Adam, & Elliott-Engel, J. (2023). Advancing adaptive leadership through Adaption-Innovation Theory: Enhancements to the holding environment. Journal of Leadership Studies. doi: 10.1002/jls/21841

Elliott-Engel, J., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Kaufman, E., & Radhakrishna, R. (2023). Administrators’ perspectives on organizational environmental factors facing 4-H youth development. Children and Youth Services Review.doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107358

Bush, S. A., Rudd, R., Seibel, M., & Baker, C. N. (2023, February). Psychometric properties of the community viability indicator. Paper presented at the Southern Region American Association for Agricultural Education Conference. Oklahoma City, OK.

Coartney, J., Westfall-Rudd, D., Kaufman, E., Seibel, M., Friedel, C., White, A., & Carmichael, C. (2023). Essential ingredients for seasoned teaching. In 69th Annual Conference of the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. Las Cruces NM: North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. Retrieved from https://julnet.swoogo.com/nacta23/posters-curriculum

Seibel, M., & Coartney, J. (2023). Logic models and timelines: Two key ingredients to bake into any planning process. Poster session presented at the meeting of 2023 VCE Winter Professional Development Conference. Virginia Tech.

Seibel, M. (2023). Maximizing the effectiveness of R&D teams by optimizing cognitive diversity. R&D Today. Retrieved from: https://www.rndtoday.co.uk/innovation-management/maximising-the-effectiveness-of-rd-teams-by-optimising-cognitive-diversity/

Seibel, M. & Elson, S. (2023). Synchronizing cognitive style with the appropriate projects in an R&D innovation team. Case Study for the KAI Foundation. Retrieved from: https://kai.foundation/synchronising-cognitive-style-with-the-appropriate-projects-in-an-rd-innovation-team/

Seibel, M. & Elson, S. (2023). Providing a framework for non-pejorative discussions in an events organization. Case Study for the KAI Foundation. Retrieved from: https://kai.foundation/providing-a-framework-for-non-pejorative-discussions-in-an-events-organization/

Seibel, M. (2023). How successful teams adapt to leadership changes. Business Age. Retrieved from: https://www.businessage.com/post/how-successful-teams-adapt-to-leadership-changes

Seibel, M. (2023). Leveraging cognitive style in problem solving teams. In We ARE Ag (Academics, Research, and Extension Conference). Prairie View A&M University, Houston, Texas.

Friedel, C., Seibel, M., & Wolfe, P. (Eds.). (2022). KAI Manual (5^th edition). KAI Foundation.

Friedel, C., Seibel, M., & Wolfe, P. (Eds.). (2022). KAI Accreditation Course Sourcebook. KAI Foundation.

Seibel, M., & Duncan, S. (2022). Report of the 2022 Virginia Agriculture and Natural Resources Summit: Farm, Forestry, Food, and Fiber of the Future. Expanding the economy and security of Virginia's agriculture, natural resources, and food systems. CALS: Blacksburg, VA.

Hemsley, S. & Seibel, M. (2022). The real reasons why your ideas at work are rejected. Worklife. Retrieved from https://www.worklife.news/culture/the-real-reasons-behind-why-your-ideas-at-work-are-rejected/

Seibel, M. (2022). Five things business leaders can do to create a fantastic work culture. Authority Magazine. Retrieved from https://medium.com/authority-magazine/megan-seibel-of-kai-foundation-five-things-business-leaders-can-do-to-create-a-fantastic-work-ca8ee0716562

Seibel, M. (2022). Curiosity Killed the Cat. Agriculture Workforce Training for Collaborative Leadership. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/awt/blog

Seibel, M., & Friedel, C. (2022). Fostering "Light Bulb Moments" Through Structurally Balanced Assignments. Agriculture Workforce Training for Collaborative Leadership. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/awt/blog

Coartney, J., Kaufman, E., Nelson, D., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Friedel, C., White, A., & Carmichael, C. J. (2022). Agriculture workforce stakeholders highlight importance of durable skills and networks [Abstract]. NACTA Journal, 66(1), 171. Retrieved from https://assets.swoogo.com/uploads/1879239-62ac7e146fdf3.pdf

Coartney, J., Kaufman, E., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Friedel, C., White, A., & Carmichael, C. (2022). Building professional collaborations between community college and land-grant university faculty. In AAAE Poster Session Proceedings Southern Region Conference (pp. 22-25). New Orleans LA: American Association for Agricultural Education. Retrieved from http://aaaeonline.org/2022southern

Seibel, M., Dowdy, M., Prater, J., Sheffield, R., & Wolfe, P. (2022). Best practices for fostering wellbeing through KAI feedback and response. In Conference Schedule and Proceedings of the 2022 KAI Symposium: Adaption, Innovation, and Well-being in the Dynamic Workplace. virtual.

Seibel, M. (2022). Cognitive diversity in healthcare settings: Leadership considerations for administrators, practitioners, and patients. In Healthcare Leadership Conference: International Leadership Association. virtual. Retrieved from https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/2022-healthcare-leadership-conference/

Coartney, J., Kaufman, E., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Friedel, C., White, A., & Carmichael, C. (2022). Building professional collaborations between community college and land -grant university faculty. In 2022 National AAAE Poster Session Proceedings. Oklahoma City OK: American Association for Agricultural Education. Retrieved from http://aaaeonline.org/2022national

Tyler-Mackey, C., Cagle, S., Seibel, M., Grant, K., & Peabody, M. (2022). Building your virtual facilitation skills: Addressing the changing needs of community leaders. NACDEP Conference Proceedings. Indianapolis, IN.

Coartney, J., Kaufman, E., Nelson, D., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Friedel, C., White, A., & Carmichael, C. (2022). Building durable skills and networks: Leadership educators' contributions to workforce readiness. In Association of Leadership Educators Annual Conference (pp. 10). Kansas City MO: Association of Leadership Educators. Retrieved from https://www.leadershipeducators.org/

Seibel, M. (2022). Leadership super seminar: Comprehending your leadership style to enhance personal and professional growth at the local level. In Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference: NACAA. https://www.nacaa.com/uploads/userfiles/files/Proceedings%202022.pdf.

Coartney, J., Kaufman, E., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Friedel, C., White, A., & Carmichael, C. (2022). Enhancing workforce readiness through a convergence of networks and collaborative leadership. In Engagement Scholarship Consortium Annual Meeting. Athens, GA. Retrieved from https://engagementscholarship.org/meetings/esc-2022-meeting

Bush, S., Seibel, M., Rodriguez, M., & Niewoehner-Green, J. (2021). Gender and problem solving: Implications for leadership in higher education. In Association of Leadership Educators: Leadership for a Global Neighborhood (pp. 368-373). online: Association of Leadership Educators. Retrieved from https://www.leadershipeducators.org/

Elliott-Engel, J., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Kaufman, E., & Radhakrishna, R. (2021). Extension administrators’ perspectives on employee competencies and characteristics. Journal of Extension, 59(3). doi:10.34068/joe.59.03.03

Drape, T., Magerkorth, N., Sen, A., Simpson, J., Seibel, M., Murch, R., & Duncan, S. (2021). Assessing the role of cyberbiosecurity in agriculture: A case study. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9. doi:10.3389/fbioe.2021.737927

Elliott-Engel, J., Westfall-Rudd, D., Kaufman, E., Seibel, M., & Radhakrishna, R. (2021). A case of shifting focus friction: Extension directors & state 4-H program leaders’ perspectives on 4-H LGBT inclusivity. Journal of Extension, 59(4). doi:10.34068/joe.59.04.14

Cletzer, D. A., Seibel, M., Kaufman, E., Friedel, C., & Elliott-Engel, J. (2021). When leadership terminology collides: A spirited comparison of Adaption-Innovation Theory and Adaptive Leadership. In ALE 2021 Virtual Annual Conference Proceedings (pp. 10-15). Association of Leadership Educators. Retrieved from https://www.leadershipeducators.org/

Hanks, S., Kaufman, E., Friedel, C, Clegorne, N., Seibel, M., Kirland, K. & Burbaugh, B. (2021). A model of leader development across the lifespan. VCE Publication No. ALCE-241P. Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Seibel, M. (2021). Virginia Cattlemen's Association 2021 Strategic Planning Activities Report: Situation Analysis, Membership Survey and Focus Group Summaries. VCE: Daleville, VA.

Seibel, M. (2021). How to ensure your team's great ideas percolate through your workforce. Training Magazine. Retrieved from https://trainingmag.com/

Seibel, M. (2021). Five ways to prevent staff burnout during lockdown. Personnel Today. Retrieved from https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/5-ways-to-prevent-burnout-during-lockdown/

Elliott-Engel, J., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Kaufman, E. & Radhakrishna, R. (2020). Administrators' perspectives on environmental factors facing cooperative extension. In Conference Proceedings of the Southern Region Meeting of the American Association of Agriculture Education. Louisville, KY. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/

Elliott-Engel, J., Westfall-Rudd, D. M., Seibel, M., & Kaufman, E. (2020). Extension’s response to the change in public value: Considerations for ensuring financial security for the cooperative extension system. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 8(2), 69-90. Retrieved from https://www.jhseonline.com/article/view/868

Price, T., Bush, S., Seibel, M., Grove, B., & Johnson, J. (2019). Teen Excellence in Leadership Institute (TELI) Handbook. VCE publication number 4H-852P. Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Bush, S. A., Seibel, M., Corkins, C., Elliott-Engel, J. (2019). Evaluating the VALOR program: Blogs as a reflection process. Journal of Agricultural Education, 60(1), 268-282.

Seibel, M., White, C., & Carter, R. (2019). National FFA Organization Awards and Recognition Think Tank Report. National FFA Organization, Indianapolis, IN.

Walker, M., & Seibel, M. (2019). Virginia agritourism & building codes review, 2018. (VCE publication number AAEC-166NP). Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Duncan, D., Seibel, M., Baudoin, A., Hall, M., & Frazier, E., (2019). Agricultural Technology Program Five-Year Review. Report to program and college faculty and administration, Virginia Tech.

Walker, M., Barnes, D., Seibel, M., & Seibel, A. (2018). Facilitation Series: Parliamentary Procedure (AAEC-145NP). Virginia Cooperative Extension. 

Serving as the inaugural director of the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) Program provides an opportunity to utilize my formal background in experiential teaching and learning issues and adult education, and non-formal background in social community development and leadership to maximize opportunities in Virginia for developing the strong leaders and collaborative partnerships necessary for the optimal future of our agricultural industry. The variety of grants with which I have worked, coupled with research initiatives in formal and non-formal settings have resulted in building collaborative partnerships at multiple levels. This experience with stakeholders at both funding and delivery ends of the spectrum has contributed to the skills necessary for translational research and the essence of bringing organizational research to the public. Working with an advisory group and alumni offers an exciting opportunity to impact all aspects of the program and I particularly look forward to serving as a liaison between the college and industry.  I am a member of a variety of private industry boards and organizations and look forward to continued opportunities to engage the strong networks in our commonwealth’s largest industry areas.

Program Website: www.valor.alce.vt.edu
Program Blog: www.valeadersor.com