Dr. Robert J. Birkenholz is a Professor of Agricultural and Extension Education in the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) at The Ohio State University. In 2002, he was appointed Chair of the department and served in that administrative role for two terms. In 2009, Dr. Birkenholz returned to a full-time faculty position in the department where he helped guide the creation of the undergraduate, interdisciplinary minor in Leadership Studies. Dr. Birkenholz has coauthored one book and one book chapter, 41 peer reviewed journal articles, 53 refereed research papers, and numerous other scholarly publications. He has taught a variety of courses in Agricultural Education and Leadership at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has advised 59 Master's and 23 doctoral degree graduates. Dr. Birkenholz served as President of the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE) and was inducted as an AAAE Fellow in 1998. He received the AAAE North Central Region Outstanding Agricultural Educator award in 2011. He has presented lectures on student centered learning and leading change at the four state agricultural universities in India. He was recognized in 2008 as a Fellow in the Kellogg Food Systems Leadership Institute. This article presents a transcript of Dr. Birkenholz's Distinguished Lecture entitled "Ripple Effects" presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education, on May 16 2012.