Dr. N.L. (Mac) McCaslin held a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Education and Master of Science degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University. He served as Research and Evaluation Coordinator at the Iowa Department of Public Instruction before coming to The Ohio State University in 1971. Professor McCaslin was a professor of agricultural education from 1971 until his retirement in 2001. He served as chair of the Department of Human and Community Resource Development from 1996 through 2001. From 1971 through 1988 he served in various positions in the National Center for Research in Vocational Education. Upon his retirement in 2001, he assumed the role of Site Director in the National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education. His teaching and scholarship interests focused on educational evaluation, planning, and policy analysis and his passion was teaching and mentoring graduate students.
Dr. McCaslin was instrumental in developing educational systems in 12 countries. He was co-author of five books and eleven book chapters. In addition, he had an extensive record of scholarly manuscripts published in peer reviewed journals and other professional dissemination outlets. He served on the editorial review board of the Journal of Agricultural Education and as a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Vocational Education Research and the Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis journal. He has also made numerous presentations at a variety of state, regional, national, and international conferences and professional meetings. As a consultant, Professor McCaslin has provided assistance to over 34 industry, education, and government organizations.
Dr. McCaslin served many leadership roles throughout his career holding offices in the American Vocational Education Research Association, the University Council for Vocational Education, and The Ohio State University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. He provided service to the department promotion and tenure committee and as chair of the graduate studies and research committee, as well as on the college Faculty Council.
Dr. McCaslin was the recipient of Honorary State and American FFA degrees. He was also awarded the Outstanding Agricultural Educator Award and was recognized as a Fellow in the American Association for Agricultural Education. Dr. McCaslin passed away on February 26, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.