41 Cooperative Extension professionals join the Impact Collaborative as Innovation Facilitators to advance program impact
For Immediate Release
Contact: Aaron Weibe, aaronweibe@eXtension.org
Atlanta, GA. 41 Cooperative Extension professionals representing 28 institutions attended eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Innovation Facilitator Training in Atlanta, GA, and completed initial learning and application of the Impact Collaborative methodology. Their skills help them lead innovation skill-building experiences at state or institutional events and at the national Impact Collaborative Summits. They join 50 other Impact Collaborative Innovation Facilitators across the Cooperative Extension System.
Directors & Administrators appoint individuals across Extension to be trained in the Impact Collaborative innovation skill-building methodology to work alongside their leadership teams to help bring more innovation to their projects and programs for increased impact. Upon completion of the training, eXtension will work directly with its trained Facilitators and institutional leadership teams to design a local event that helps project and program teams find innovative ways to advance local impact.
Innovation Facilitators also participate in the national Impact Collaborative Summits to incubate project and program teams across the nation. At these Summits, eXtension brings unique opportunities to create impactful results at the local level by increasing Cooperative Extension’s organizational readiness and capacity for innovation and change. The Impact Collaborative Summits connect Cooperative Extension professionals with skills, tools, resources and partners that can expand and deepen their impact in a continuing partnership with the Impact Collaborative.
To learn more about eXtension and the Impact Collaborative, please visit eXtension.org.
Please find a complete listing of the newest Innovation Facilitators below, listed by institution.

Alcorn State University
Gerald Jones
Colorado State University
Mark Platten
Cornell University
Danielle Hautaniemi
Karin bump
Delaware State University
Talaysha Lingham
Florida A&M University
Edwin Duke
Mississippi State University
Elizabeth Gregory North
Montana State University
Ashley Kent
North Carolina A&T State University
Eugenia Gwynn
Kittrane Sanders
Shannon Wiley
North Dakota State University Extension Service
Stacy Wang
Oregon State University
Jennifer Oppenlander
Purdue University
Sam McCollum
Ryan Wynkoop
Rutgers University
Jan Zientek
Michele Bakacs
Sara Elnakib
Matthew Newman
The University of Georgia
Kristi Farner
Rochelle Sapp
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Alda Norris
University of California
Jennifer Caron-Sale
University of Delaware
Jennifer Volk
University of Florida (Sea Grant)
Joy Hazell
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Monica Esquivel
University of Idaho
Nancy Shelstad
Donna Schwarting
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Francine Sulinkski
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Maifan Silitonga
Suzanne Street
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kurt Mantonya
John Porter
Dave Varner
Jean Fischer
University of Nevada, Reno
Lisa K. Taylor
University of Vermont Extension
Amy Davidson
Alison Nihart
University of Wyoming
Hannah Swanbom
Utah State University
Craig Dart
University of Illinois
Elizabeth Welbes