Tobin Redwine has seen various parts of the world. From interacting with lion cubs in South Carolina to teaching students studying abroad in Namibia. However, he always returns home to Aggieland.
Redwine received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M in 2008 and is now an assistant professor in the department of agricultural leadership, education and communications. He has received numerous honors and awards for teaching, advising and his photography.
During the spring semester of last year, Redwine was named Honored Professor for Agriculture and Life Sciences. According to Redwine, this award is given by the Agricultural and Life Sciences Student Council to a faculty member that reflects outstanding teaching.
Redwine said being the Honored Professor for Agriculture and Life Science recipient has been one of the largest achievements of his teaching career.
“That was definitely one of the biggest honors in my academic career in terms of teaching is to be recognized for that,” Redwine said. “Before that, as an advisor, I was recognized by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. My dissertation research, in an international research competition we won Outstanding Research for the year.”
Redwine’s main focus on agricultural communications, storytelling, strategic messaging and high-impact learning has allowed him to present the thought of how people visually take in images or stories through his in-depth photography and writing courses.
“A way that we consume an image visually is how we consume stories, and how we tell stories shows up in photography and writing,” Redwine said. “My goal is to understand how we can make meaning of a message and eventually create a message that people can make meaning of accurately through interpersonal communication.”
Redwine’s goals for his in-depth courses are to equip students with the tools they need in future careers and to be the support system his students may need during the course, which he describes as high intensity.
“I want to be positive and encourage in all levels possible while maintaining a high level of rigor,” Redwine said. “In terms of personal development, I want to make sure that students are required to give a lot of effort in all of my courses, but I also want to make sure that they know that I am going to be supportive and positive to help them build towards those high standards throughout the whole process.”
In addition to being a well-sought after professor, Redwine also hosts a study abroad to Namibia and was a Tranistion Camp namesake in 2016.
“That was pretty meaningful for me because, again, that’s students recognizing people that were influential in their life,” Redwine said. “It has just been a really meaningful process. I really believe in the idea of the mission of T-Camp, which is to welcome students and I understand how important that population is to our university and I want to be a part of the family that gets them on board in Aggieland.”
Jensen Martinez, agricultural communications and journalism senior, was a counselor in Redwine’s camp while he was a namesake.
“When I first met him, his love for students and his excitement for what he was doing was evident,” Martinez said. “Dr. Redwine was the
perfect representative of the department and he essentially talked me into making one of the best decisions of my life in choosing to study agricultural communications and journalism.”
Martinez said she could not imagine A&M without Redwine and encourages students to take a class with him if possible.
“Even if you only meet him once, you will never forget him because he can almost instantly form some type of bond with you,” Martinez said. “He truly cares for his students and brings out the best in all that are lucky enough to meet him.
By Victoria Fluellen & Mariah Colón