45 Cooperative Extension Professionals Join eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Program as Innovation Facilitators
In February 2020, the eXtension Foundation’s Impact Collaborative program hosted its first Innovation Facilitator training for the year. 45 new Innovation Facilitators representing 18 Land-Grant universities completed the training, joining 107 others that represent 49 Land-Grant Universities.
Participants spent three days learning the Impact Collaborative’s Innovation Skill-Building methodology and obtained skills and tools that will help catalyze innovation with local project and program teams and also assist with the delivery of the Impact Collaborative program nationally. Additionally, Innovation Facilitators serve as coaches at the national Impact Collaborative Summit to help project and program teams across Cooperative Extension identify gaps in their project and program planning and connect those teams to resources that help fill those gaps.
This particular training session was unique as it marks the first time that the Impact Collaborative has delivered the Innovation Facilitator training virtually. Some highlights from this training include:
- 100% of participants responded that they would likely or possibly recommend this training to others.
- 98% of participants stated they would definitely or probably use the information presented in the training.
The newest Innovation Facilitators are:
Colorado State University
Lacey Taylor
Florida A&M University
Alejandro Bolques
Conchita Newman
Dreamal Worthen
Sandra Thompson
Fort Valley State University
Cynthia Wilson Willis
Terrence Wolfork
Kansas State University
Gayle Price
Laurie Chandler
Rachael Clews
Robin Eubank-Callis
Trudy Rice
New Mexico State University
Amanda Benton
North Dakota State University
Kelli Anderson
Oklahoma State University
Cindy Conner
Claude Bess
Jane Carpenter
Kegan Herrick
LaDonna Hines
Penn State University
Capri Stiles-Mikesell
Kimberly McCarthy
Mary Alice Gettings
Natalie Aiello
Prairie View A&M University
Cynthia Pierfax
Purdue University
Kara Salazar
South Dakota State University
Ann Taecker
Southern University
Gerald Williams
Krystle Allen
Tiffany Franklin
The Ohio State University
Michael Schweinsberg
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Alda Norris
University of Maryland
Catherine Liu
University of Minnesota
Kristen Mastel
Michael Compton
Regina McGoff
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Beth Nacke
Carroll Welte
Crystal Powers
Holly Hatton-Bowers
Linda Reddish
Shawn Kaskie
University of Wyoming
Mary Louise Wood
Virginia Tech
Megan Seibel
Melanie Barrow
The training was led by the Impact Collaborative team alongside ten previously trained Innovation Facilitators that served as coaches during the training including:
- Tira Adelman, eXtension Foundation
- Ashley Griffin, eXtension Foundation
- Megan Hirschman, eXtension Foundation
- Molly Immendorf, eXtension Foundation
- Annie Jones, eXtension Foundation
- David Keto, University of Wyoming
- John Porter, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Kittrane Sanders, North Carolina State University
- Donna Schwarting, University of Idaho
- Bekah Sparks, Mississippi State University
- Chuck Stamper, University of Kentucky
- Stacy Wang, North Dakota State University
- Jason Weigle, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Allison Young, Kentucky State University
About the eXtension Foundation
The eXtension Foundation is a membership-based non-profit designed to be the engine fueling U.S. Cooperative Extension’s advancement in making a more visible and measurable impact in support of education outreach from land-grant universities/colleges located in every state and territory. eXtension provides an array of opportunities for Extension professionals that foster innovation creation, the adoption of innovations at member institutions, and increased impact of Extension programs.
