Advancing Disaster Education in America: EDEN Request for Applications Announced

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When disaster strikes, knowledge is power. Disaster education builds resilient communities ready to respond and recover. Cooperative Extension plays a critical role in the nation’s disaster education efforts, and a new Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Development Grants Program will enable the Cooperative Extension System to do even more. 

Applications for the EDEN Development Grants Program – Advancing Disaster Education America – is now open. You can review the RFA here. The application deadline is April 15, 2024. The goal of the grants program is to fuel the development of creative educational resources and Extension initiatives. These resources will empower EDEN’s mission and the broader land-grant and sea-grant systems to effectively address all phases of disaster management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. 

Focus Areas 

The development grants program focuses on four areas of work, detailed below:

  • Production of publicly available EDEN resources and scholarship. Deliverables must increase the scope, variety, and number of disaster-related materials available on the website. 
  • Professional development for EDEN points-of-contact and delegates. Deliverables must include training, EDEN certificates, and related projects to enhance the personal and professional capacity of EDEN Delegates. 
  • Enhanced membership and participation. Deliverables must include efforts and activities to generate new institutional memberships, increase delegate numbers, and increase participation, particularly among underrepresented groups such as 1890 and 1994 institutions.  
  • Enhancement of partnerships, relationships, and networks on behalf of EDEN. Deliverables would include outreach and engagement activities intended to build new funding relationships with agencies and organizations, including, but not limited to, USDA. 

Award Amount and Eligibility

Committee Awards: Awards of up to $5,000 will be made available to each of nine eligible EDEN committees. A list of eligible committees is available in the full RFA. 

Competitive Grants: Four $10,000 grants – one per focus area – and one $15,000 grant are available. These grants are intended to foster cross-committee and cross-focus engagement. Applications may be submitted by Extension professionals employed by land-grant or sea-grant universities that are members of EDEN. For committee-specific awards, at least one individual named in the proposed project must be a committee member. For the larger awards, at least one individual on any proposed project must be an EDEN delegate or point of contact.  

If you have questions about the EDEN Development Grants Program, please contact Fred Schlutt at fredschlutt@extension.org.

Timeline

  • Application Open: April 1, 2024
  • Application Deadline: 11:59 pm Pacific on Monday, April 15, 2024 FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
  • Award Notification: April 2024
  • Award Period: May 1, 2024 June 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024

Access the complete RFA here.

Application Process: Learn the steps involved in applying for each mini-grant type.

Review, Award & Monitoring: Understand the evaluation process for selecting awardees and how grant progress will be monitored.

Apply here.

About EDEN

EDEN is a collaborative network of Cooperative Extension educators across the United States and territories who work to improve the delivery of education and information and the availability of resources related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Historically, this grassroots network has been aligned with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and supported by USDA NIFA through the Food and Agricultural Defense Initiative (FADI) grant.

The Extension Foundation, in partnership with Washington State University, Iowa State University, and the Cooperative Extension System, is now supporting the administration of the FADI-EDEN project. Learn more about EDEN here.

 

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New Research Publication Explores Technology Acceptance and CRM Technologies in Extension

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The Extension Foundation released a new research publication titled “A Qualitative Investigation of the Technology Acceptance Model in the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service on the Adoption of Customer Relationship Management Systems.”

Authored by Dr. Aaron Weibe, Extension Foundation’s communication and engagement manager for his recently awarded PhD, the study delves into the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and its role in Extension adopting Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.

Why CRMs Matter for Extension

Dr. Weibe emphasizes the potential of CRMs for Extension services. CRMs offer a centralized platform for managing interactions with the public, leading to more effective communication, outreach, and engagement. Additionally, modern CRMs integrate seamlessly with other software, providing an overall view of operations.

Despite these advantages, Dr. Weibe acknowledges the high failure rate of CRM implementation. His research explores the challenges hindering adoption and investigates how TAM principles can be leveraged to increase CRM success rates within Extension. By exploring TAM in the context of CRM adoption, the publication provides specific and actionable insights to improve technology acceptance in Extension organizations.

Looking for More?

This research is one of two dozen publications released by the Extension Foundation in the last several months. The entire library, including the 2022-2023 NTAE Yearbook, is here.

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Request for Applications & Application guide: EXCITE Bridge Access Project

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EXCITE: Bridge Access Project: Access the full RFA and application guide here

ELIGIBILITY: The EXCITE Bridge Access Project is available for USDA NIFA EFNEP, and EXCITE Implementation Phase teams that submitted an Indication of Interest form for the Bridge Access Project in December 2023. This is a noncompetitive funding opportunity. 

AWARD AMOUNT:  $30,000 for EXCITE Implementation Phase teams and $72,000 for EFNEP teams. 

TIMELINE: 

  • Application Open: March 26, 2024
  • Application Deadline: April 24, 2024, 11:59 PM, Pacific Time
  • Award Period: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025

The Extension Foundation (EXF), in cooperation with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), through an Interagency Agreement (IAA) with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are funding the Cooperative Extension System (CES) for the COVID-19 Bridge program.  The Bridge program has two objectives:  

  1. Increase awareness of eligibility of COVID-19 Bridge vaccine program for under and uninsured individuals 18 years and older; and
  2. Increase awareness of when and how to get a free updated COVID-19 vaccine through the Bridge Access Program. 

Funding will be provided to institutions currently participating in the EXCITE Implementation Phase that submitted an Intention of Interest form for the Bridge Access Project in December 2023 in the amount of $30,000 each to augment their immunization efforts with information about Bridge Access immunizations in ongoing immunization education programming.  

Funding will be provided to USDA NIFA Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Programs (EFNEP) to integrate Bridge access information into the EFNEP curriculum and programming efforts in the amount of $72,000 each. This will provide a whole health approach. EFNEP is focused on families with limited resources and, thus, are likely serving individuals and families that may not have health care coverage and would benefit from the Bridge immunizations.

 

WHERE TO APPLY:

Applications for this funding opportunity will be processed on a rolling basis. Applications should be filled out through the EXF Bridge Access Project WizeHive portal (https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/bridge). For additional information, questions, or clarifications, email EXCITE@extension.org.

Current EXCITE Implementation Phase teams will need to create a new EXF WizeHive profile for this new opportunity as it is a separate project.
Find the full request for applications and guide here. 

 

Please submit one application per funding opportunity.  If your institution has an EXCITE Implementation Phase project AND an EFNEP project team applying for this funding, you each need to submit a separate application for each initiative, as they are considered independent grants with separate budgets and deliverables.  

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Celebrating Culture & Pollinators: Animated Series Honors Native Languages, Provides Science Education

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Pollinators like bees, bats, and butterflies are vital for human health because they transfer pollen between plants, allowing many fruits, vegetables, and nuts that nourish us to grow and reproduce. Without these busy pollinators, our diets would be less diverse and lack essential vitamins and minerals found in pollinator-dependent crops. Educating youth about the importance of pollinators is critical. It empowers them to become stewards of these vital creatures, ensuring a healthy future for themselves and our planet.

“Pollinator Superheroes” Provides a Fun and Innovative Way to Educate Youth

Youth can learn about pollinators through “Pollinator Superheroes,” an animated series created for Native American elementary students in Nebraska and Oklahoma. It is supported by the New Technologies in Ag Extension program (NTAE). 

Pollinator Superheroes is more than just a cartoon. The series aims to:

  • Inspire young viewers by getting them excited about identifying and protecting crucial pollinators.
  • Celebrate culture by reinforcing the importance of students’ actions, cultures, and native languages. It empowers youth to see themselves as heroes in protecting their environment and heritage.

Many younger generations in tribal communities lack opportunities to learn their heritage languages outside the home. The project addresses this critical issue, through partnerships with several organizations.

The Project is Growing and Evolving

The Pollinator Superheroes project began in late 2019 with a partnership between the National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) and Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) to create a “Prep for Pollinators Campaign” for children and adults. The project expanded in 2020 with seasonal pollinator guides for the PVAMU and Pawnee Nation College (PNC) communities.

Animation took flight in 2021 and 2022. NPSEC, collaborating with Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC), secured last year’s NTAE Year 4 Expansion Grant to create Episode 1 of “Pollinator Superheroes: The Beginning.”

With support from NICC, PNC, PVAMU, and the St. Louis Zoo, KJM Digital produced Episode 1, a 20-minute episode centered around Nate, a fourth grader who enlists the help of four pollinators – Bat, Bumblebee, Hover Fly, and Monarch – to save his neighborhood from a misguided developer. Through the adventures of their animated friends, youth learn the crucial role they play in protecting pollinators while simultaneously being introduced to the Dakota language. The episode will be translated into other languages if more funding becomes available.

A through line for the project over the years has been Kara Maddox, who owns KJM Digital and serves as the lead for this year’s project, as a partner with Michigan State University. She emphasized the importance of the work, saying,

“Sometimes we forget the importance of nature in urban and suburban environments. Our goal for the project is to help kids learn the importance of pollinators through dynamic stories and characters by building a connection to nature in their home communities.”

Branching Out

A new round of NTAE funding is enabling the project team to expand its reach. 

Through a partnership with the University of Georgia Extension and Dr. Allison Johnson (liaison to the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns and the Cherokee of Georgia Tribal Council), the team is bringing the Pollinator Superheroes project to communities in the southern United States. Dr. Johnson is the voice of Bat in Episode 1, and is leading the native seeds initiative, which is described below. A partnership with Michigan State University Extension and Tribal Educator Emily Proctor will help establish the project in the Upper Great Lakes region.

Nate’s Next Adventure – Planting a Pollinator Paradise

Episode 2 – due out in the fall – picks up with the inquisitive fourth grader, Nate. Nate faces a new challenge in his native community. Once again, his pollinator pals are there to help by planting one seed at a time.

The project team is committed to making the project even more inclusive. Episode 2 will feature a translation into the Cherokee language, joining the existing Dakota language version. The episode will also showcase exciting advancements in animation technology, using Adobe’s Character Animator with Body Tracker, powered by Adobe Sensei AI, which allows for real-time animation and smoother, more fluid movement for the characters.

Episode 2 also inspires action. To help young viewers put their newfound knowledge to work, the team is giving away native seed packets – perfect for planting on Earth Day! To receive seeds, scan the QR code below, directing you to the YouTube page, which has information on how to order the seeds. Maddox says, “We’re living at a tipping point and children need a role model they can count on – even if he’s a cartoon superhero! In Episode 2, Nate and his pollinators save his community by planting one seed at a time. We can do this at home with our native seed packets to help our pollinators as they help us.”

Connect and Learn More

  • Subscribe to the team’s new Pollinator Superheroes YouTube page.
  • Learn more about the project by reading the Pollen Power feature article in the 2023 NTAE Yearbook.
  • Share and Scan the QR code to learn how to order a native seed packet to create a pollinator-friendly habitat in your community.  The QR code will take you to Episode 1 on Youtube. Click ‘more’ under the title to order free native seeds.
  • Have questions about the project? Please email the team at PollinatorSuperheroes2@gmail.com

This project is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation. 

Discover more about NTAE-supported work and find additional resources in the 2022-2023 NTAE Yearbook and in the Extension Foundation’s publications library.

 

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Extension’s Unique Strength in Immunization Education: Health and Community Partnerships

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The Extension Collaboration for Immunization, Teaching, and Engagement (EXCITE) project was created to reduce vaccine hesitancy in rural and medically underserved communities. Drawing upon Cooperative Extension System’s (CES) many unique strengths, EXCITE teams were able to effectively respond and deliver immunization education to their priority populations.

One valuable strength was the strategic cultivation of partnerships, where Extension leveraged its tools, knowledge, and community connections to collaborate with state and local health partners. We will explore how these partnerships played a fundamental role in the success of the EXCITE project.

Health Partnerships: Bridging Gaps in Vaccine Education and Access

Collaboration was key to overcoming challenges. In a period of when state and county health departments were overwhelmed and there was a pressing need for reliable evidence-based messaging, Extension capitalized on its strengths to effectively coordinate efforts and collaborate with stakeholders. This included enhancing communication between communities and healthcare systems, improving accessibility and acceptability of local clinics, and mobilizing communities to implement health initiatives. With the collective knowledge of community demographics, EXCITE project teams collaborated with local partners to deliver adult immunization information and resources, organize vaccine events, and mobilize vaccine clinics. These partnerships facilitated more efficient messaging and outreach efforts, resulting in increased immunization uptake.

The EXCITE Pilot Projects maximized resource sharing and messaging dissemination by establishing relationships with community organizations, public health departments, and other trusted entities within target communities. A total of 234 partnerships were formed within the Pilot Projects, spanning internal and academic, community, health departments, faith-based organizations, and healthcare providers.

Reported successes of EXCITE partnerships included:

  • Increased access and ability to deliver vaccines
  • Increase availability of immunization education to a wider audience and utilize experts in various fields to enrich their project’s knowledge base
  • Overcome challenges to providing vaccine education
  • Increased teams’ ability to communicate and access more translation services to facilitate effective communication with multilingual communities


Beyond Immunization
These partnerships, built on trust and shared goals, have laid the groundwork for future collaboration across various public health initiatives beyond immunization. Want to see the power of collaboration in action? Check out the videos featuring three public health partners discussing their involvement in EXCITE projects and other community efforts.

You’ll see:

  • Unique contributions each partner brought to the project
  • The positive impact of their collaboration
  • How the relationship has evolved and grown stronger through working together
  • Their vision for the future of the partnership and continued success.

These stories demonstrate the strides made by the EXCITE project in elevating Extension as a valuable partner in public health!

EXCITE Health Partnership: NCDHHS and NC State Extension

EXCITE Partnership: Arkansas Extension & ARcare 

Learn Firsthand from VSU&VT Extension!

To hear about an EXCITE partnership firsthand, join us at the March Program Center Stage, Extension & Public Health: A Spotlight on Collaborative Excellence with EXCITE Virginia Team. This webinar showcases the successful partnership between Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and the public health sector, featuring the EXCITE Virginia team. Led by Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, this team has tackled vaccine-related health disparities in rural and underserved areas by working closely with county governments, health departments, United Way, and pharmacies to set up vaccine clinics and educate communities. Their efforts earned them the National Immunization Excellence Award. In this webinar, they’ll share their strategies, lessons learned, and outcomes achieved, offering insights on effective collaboration between Extension and public health agencies. Register here.

Read more about the EXCITE project:
EXCITE Pilot Projects – Final Report
EXCITE Annual Report – Year Two
EXCITE Vaccinate in Confidence Final Report

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How Innovative Leadership Keeps Cooperative Extension Strong: An Interview with Karl Bradley

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Introduction

In a rapidly changing world, innovative leadership is critical for Cooperative Extension’s success. Leadership development equips Extension professionals with the skills to navigate complex issues, build collaborative teams, consistently adapt, and create programs to meet emerging needs. This ensures Cooperative Extension remains a relevant and impactful force.

The Extension Foundation actively supports this goal through the expertise of Karl Bradley, its Leadership and Team Development Specialist. Karl joined the team in 2020, bringing over 25 years of experience from the U.S. Air Force and football coaching, where he honed his leadership skills across various areas.

Originally from Branson, Missouri, Karl has a proven track record leading teams of various sizes. His experience spans public relations, operations, fundraising, and more, across 49 states and 20 countries. This diverse background positions him perfectly to guide Extension professionals in building strong alliances, fostering partnerships, and driving positive change.

In this Q&A, you’ll learn about the ways Karl and the Extension Foundation can support your organization and team. Listen in as Karl chats with Dr. Aaron Weibe about effective leadership strategies on the latest episode of the Connect Extension podcast. Discover Karl’s passion for leadership in the short video we’ve included at the end of this piece. Connect with Karl on LinkedIn to learn more about his expertise.

 

What do you do for the Extension Foundation?

My job is to positively influence the 32,000 Cooperative Extension professionals across the country so they can continue creating meaningful experiences for the people of our nation. My primary purpose is to awaken everyone to the power of their leadership!

Peter Drucker says “Only three things happen in organizations; friction, confusion, and underperformance. Everything else requires leadership.”

The most important thing to remember about this is that these things “happen naturally” when we start collaborating. Friction is present when people don’t understand one another. Confusion happens when communication isn’t effective. Underperformance shows up with skills mismatch and culture issues.

When we seek to understand each other before being understood ourselves, friction begins to fade. When we align what we say with what we do, confusion begins to fade. Engagement increases as we connect through our shared humanity.

We help teams realize it doesn’t have to be this way. You can have the positive experience you want together. It takes everyone’s leadership to move from surviving to thriving!

To make this happen, the Extension Foundation offers individual and team coaching, grant support, and quality membership offerings. The people we serve are very busy professionals so the flexibility of our services is paramount. If your team is at a “7”, we can help you and your team members take action to move to an “8” which will feel remarkably different!

What do you want people to know about your services and offerings?

No matter where you are on your leadership journey, we will listen, learn, and help you lead in the most authentic way for you. We strive to be a strong success partner so everyone can become the best version of themselves. We promise you will be seen, heard, and valued no matter where you are in your career. It’s an honor and privilege to be a trusted partner for the people doing such vital work for our nation. 

How might teams use the recently updated Healthy Teams Handbook and the Team Health Survey tool?

I am so excited to share the newly updated Healthy Teams Handbook! It’s a resource we originally developed to support New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) project teams. This practical guide offers insights and strategies to help you build and maintain high-performing, collaborative teams. Designed to complement the Team Health Dashboard, a research-backed tool based on Google’s “Project Aristotle”, the Healthy Teams Handbook delves into the five key “conditions” essential for effective teamwork:

  • Psychological safety
  • Dependability
  • Structure and clarity
  • Meaning
  • Impact

By understanding and fostering these conditions, you can create a more positive and productive team environment, ultimately leading to better Extension outcomes.

People come together for many reasons. They all desire to have an impact in some way to make our world a little better. To do this they need to become a team. With the survey and handbook, they can have a common language to discuss timeless aspects of how to become a highly effective team. Taking time to reflect on the experience you’re having together in any endeavor is time well spent because healthy teams have more impact. The connection and extension of their talents is what great teamwork is all about.

What do you see as the most important leadership trends that are relevant to Cooperative Extension?

We hear from people all across the country about how Cooperative Extension is the best-kept secret. To build on the success of the first 100 years of Extension and serve the nation in the next century it will take everyone’s collective best. It will take leadership rooted in courage to grow as individuals and blossom into people who get things accomplished with others. Caring for each other and the people of our nation will take truly human leadership. Trends with labels will come and go just like they always have. By embracing the impact we can have together on critical issues, we can transform Extension from a secret to an even more significant force for good.

Editor’s Note:  The Extension Foundation offers a wealth of leadership development resources for Extension professionals. Take the Team Health Survey and gain valuable insights into your team’s strengths and areas for improvement. Access the Healthy Teams Handbook for practical strategies to build high-performing teams. Explore the Extension Foundation’s Leadership Development offerings to further enhance your team’s capabilities. 

This work is supported by New Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Extension Foundation Celebrates a Year of Achievement and Growth in 2023

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The Extension Foundation proudly announces the successful culmination of its endeavors in 2023, marking a year of significant accomplishments and strategic advancements in collaboration with the Cooperative Extension System (CES). The annual report is available on the Extension Foundation website at this link.

Throughout the year, the Extension Foundation reinforced its commitment to supporting the CES by enhancing infrastructure and expanding capacity to manage larger grant awards on behalf of the Cooperative Extension System. These efforts solidify the Foundation’s ability to provide crucial assistance for national funded programs, ensuring impactful outcomes for communities across the nation.

Key leadership transitions underscored the Foundation’s dedication to excellence. Following the retirement of Dr. Christine Nygren, Dr. Beverly Coberly assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer after a national search led by Dr. Fred Schlutt. Additionally, Mrs. Ashley Griffin, a seasoned Extension Foundation staff member, was appointed as Chief Operating Officer, further strengthening the organization’s leadership team.

In 2023, the Extension Foundation expanded its portfolio of national funded programs, managing a total portfolio of $63M on behalf of the system:

  • AgriProspects: A $10M program aimed at optimizing connections between demand and supply in the agricultural workforce. The program will establish a sustainable national network and provide mini-grants for workforce development projects.
  • Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching & Engagement (EXCITE): Significantly advancing adult immunization initiatives, reaching millions of citizens and establishing pilot projects to enhance vaccine confidence and uptake in rural areas.
  • New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE): Incubating and accelerating projects to increase the impact of Cooperative Extension, resulting in the funding of 36 projects spanning various focus areas and universities.
  • Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program: Securing a cooperative agreement with the EPA to support pesticide safety education programs across 52 Land-grant universities.

The Extension Foundation extends its appreciation to all partners, stakeholders, and Cooperative Extension professionals for their support and collaboration in advancing its mission.

For more information about the Extension Foundation and its initiatives, visit www.extension.org

About the Extension Foundation:

The Extension Foundation was formed in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administrators. Today, the Foundation partners with Cooperative Extension through liaison roles and a formal plan of work with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) to increase system capacity while providing programmatic services, and helping Extension programs scale and investigate new methods and models for implementing programs. The Foundation provides professional development to Cooperative Extension professionals and offers exclusive services to its members.

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2024 National Pilot Invitation: My Hometown is Cool!

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We invite you to be part of the “My Hometown is Cool!” National Pilot Program, hosted by West Virginia University, in collaboration with the Extension Foundation New Technology in Ag Extension program.

What is “My Hometown is Cool!”?
“My Hometown is Cool!” is a dynamic program that spans Extension disciplines, including 4-H and Youth Development, Community Resource Economic Development, and Families and Health, designed to engage 6th-12th grade students in community development and entrepreneurial thinking. Through four interactive lessons, students explore ways to improve their communities and  pitch their ideas for community projects in a competition. Winning teams receive funding to bring their projects to life in their hometowns. So far, the program has impacted over 850 students in West Virginia, with 11 community mini-grants awarded.

National Pilot Program
The “My Hometown is Cool” team is recruiting Extension partners from each of the five ECOP Regions to collaborate on a National Program Pilot during the 2024-2025 school year. The five teams will receive $2,500 mini-grants to support program delivery.

Partnering institutions will play a vital role in delivering the “My Hometown is Cool” program to groups of at least 20 students. Additionally, partners will  have the opportunity to allocate mini-grants to support youth-led projects and aid in their implementation. Partners  will be given  support and tools to evaluate program impacts. Feedback results will contribute to refining the national program model.

Apply Now!
Extension organizations from the following ECOP regions can apply: 1890 Region, North Central Region, Northeast Region, Southern Region, and Western Region. Applications are due by March 15th, 2024, Partners will be announced on April 1st. Learn more about the program and find the application on the program webpage. 


For More Information
Contact Lauren Prinzo, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Community and Economic Development at WVU Extension, at Lmprinzo@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-8690.
Read more about the My Hometown Is Cool New Technologyoy in Ag Extension Project here. 

 

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Vacancy Announcement Executive Director, Association of Southern Region Extension Directors (ASRED)

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The Executive Director of ASRED provides administrative and staff level support for association business,  programs, and activities; facilitates programmatic cooperation and coordination among the member  states; and fosters the linkages, partnerships, and collaborative arrangements necessary to place the  member states in the strongest position possible to ensure success at the state, regional and national  levels. The Office of the Executive Director is charged with promoting the collaborative work of the  Southern Region Program Leadership Network as a mechanism to strengthen Extension programming on  a multi-state and regional level. In addition, the Executive Director devotes 25% FTE as a member of the  national Extension Director/Administrator team in support of the national work of ECOP and the  Cooperative Extension section of the APLU Board on Agriculture.  

General Duties and Responsibilities 

  • Provide direct staff support for the ASRED Chair and for committees, programs, and members of  ASRED as assigned. 
  • Coordinate regional, multi-state, and integrated programs and educational activities. Facilitate  the collection of data on the implementation and evaluation of multi-state programs within the  region. Make these data appropriately available for states to use in reporting against annual plans  of work. Tender regional reports to NIFA and others as appropriate.  
  • Actively pursue regional and multi-state programming and funding opportunities on behalf of the  member states, facilitate the development of proposals and support those proposals through the  funding process. 
  • Cooperate and collaborate as appropriate with experiment station directors, academic heads,  and 1890 administrators at both the regional and national level. 
  • Promote and facilitate the goals and objectives of ASRED through effective liaison among states  within the region, between the Southern Region and other Extension and experiment station  regions, with NIFA, and with a variety of other federal partners. 
  • Work cooperatively with the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors  (SAAESD) staff to coordinate programs and activities and to promote joint research/Extension  cooperation within the Southern Region.  
  • Serve as ASRED’s principal contact with the ECOP/CES Executive Director of Extension. Support  the office of the ECOP Executive Director of Extension and Outreach and the initiatives and  activities of ECOP as appropriate, devoting 25% FTE to national efforts. 
  • Support ECOP Chair when position is occupied by an Extension Director from the Southern  Region. 
  • Be responsible for all fiscal and personnel matters related to the office of the ASRED executive  director. 

Qualifications 

An earned doctoral degree in agricultural, human, life or educational sciences and successful  administrative experience are required. Successful leadership experience at a state Cooperative  Extension Service is highly desirable. Previous or current responsibilities involving appraisal of Extension  educational programs, budget development, human and fiscal resource allocation, administration of  personnel, and development of funding initiatives are important experiences. Comprehensive  understanding of the Cooperative Extension System and its relationships at the federal, state, and county  levels and knowledge and understanding of the broad land-grant mission with particular emphasis on the  role and function of the Cooperative Extension System are preferred. The abilities to plan, organize,  budget, motivate, solve problems, and communicate effectively with diverse audiences and  constituencies in support of the goals of ASRED are essential. Effective use of information technology in 

the delivery of educational programming and in the work of the ASRED is essential. Knowledge of southern  region Cooperative Extension efforts is desirable. 

Salary and Conditions of Employment 

Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position of  Executive Director is a full-time, 12-month position. 

Location 

Location of the successful candidate is negotiable. Travel will be required to participate in regional and  national activities.  

To Apply 

Applications and nominations will be accepted until a suitable applicant is identified; review of  applications will begin April 12, 2024. Applicants should submit a letter of intent; curriculum vitae; and  the names and contact information of five (5) references to: 

  

Executive Director Search 

c/o Rick Avery, Director 

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 

asredsearch@ag.tamu.edu 

979-314-8202

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This website is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.

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