Extension Foundation Announces Appointment of Adam Hughes to Lead National Health and Well-Being Coordination Efforts

The Extension Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Hughes, MPH, to provide national-level managerial support for Cooperative Extension’s health and well-being initiatives. In this role, Hughes will support the implementation of the five high-level recommendations from Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Well-Being, approved by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) in 2021. His appointment began on March 1, 2025, under a one-year contract.

A seasoned public health leader with over 20 years of experience across the nonprofit, government, and higher education sectors, Hughes currently serves as a State Extension Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension. His work has spanned strategic program development, organizational leadership, and advancing health through community-engaged approaches. He brings a strong understanding of Cooperative Extension’s health-related infrastructure and programming, as well as a passion for building collaborative networks.

In his new role with the Extension Foundation, Hughes will serve as the primary liaison for health and well-being efforts and support the National Health Leadership Committee (HLC), He will also promote promising practices from across the nation, coordinate with Land-grant institutions, and represent the Cooperative Extension System in national conversations on health.

“Adam Hughes has a deep commitment to community health and a proven track record of leadership,” said Beverly Coberly, Chief Executive Officer of the Extension Foundation. “We are thrilled to have someone with his experience and integrity advancing the health and well-being priorities of the Cooperative Extension System.”

Hughes holds a Master of Public Health from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College. He also serves in leadership roles with the Cornell Center for Health Equity and the Rural Health Network of South-Central New York.

For more information about Cooperative Extension’s health and well-being initiatives, visit https://health.extension.org.