What is Cooperative Extension?
All universities engage in research and teaching, but the nation’s 111 Land-grant Universities and Colleges, including Historically Black Land-grant Universities and Tribal Colleges, have a third critical mission—Extension. “Extension” means reaching out and extending university research and resources to meet public needs through non-formal educational programs at the community level. The Cooperative Extension System (CES) engages people in these educational opportunities to help them solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future where they live and work.
With thousands of Land-grant University and county-based Extension employees and over 2 million volunteers, CES crosses every state and U.S. territory. Working with a network of public and private organizations, CES brings science-based resources to the people and communities who need them most. Find Extension Programs Across the Nation.
How does the Extension Foundation fit in?
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. In 2020 and 2021, the Extension Foundation has awarded 85% of its direct funding back to the Cooperative Extension System, 100% of funds are used to support Cooperative Extension initiatives.
Our Team
Chief Executive Officer
Christine Geith (christinegeith@extension.org)
Chief Operating Officer
Beverly Coberly (bevcoberly@extension.org)
Administrative
- Tira Adelman, Grants & Program Manager, New Technologies for Ag Extension Asst. Project Manager, (tiraadelman@extension.org)
- Larissia Crosby, Accounting Manager, (larissiacrosby@extension.org)
- Brenna Kotar, Contracts and Operations Manager, (brennakotar@extension.org)
Communications, Marketing, & Engagement
- Aaron Weibe, Communications & Engagement Manager, New Technologies for Ag Extension Key Informant (aaronweibe@extension.org)
- Melanie Pugsley, Communications Associate, EXCITE Communications, (melaniepugsley@extension.org)
Partnership Development
- Megan Hirschman, Lead Development Officer (meganhirschman@extension.org)
- Hellina Tadesse, Partnership Development Specialist, New Technologies for Ag Extension Key Informant (hellinatadesse@extension.org)
- Regan Emmons, Climate Partnership and Development Specialist (reganemmons@extension.org)
Digital Publishing, Evaluation, & Engagement
- Ashley Griffin, Program Manager, New Technologies for Ag Extension Key Informant (agriffin@extension.org)
- Isabel Osbourne, EXCITE Marketing & Evaluation Assistant (isabelosborune@extension.org)
Program & Team Development
- Molly Immendorf, Design Strategist (mollyimmendorf@extension.org), New Technologies for Ag Extension Key Informant
- Karl Bradley, Leadership Development Specialist, New Technologies for Ag Extension Key Informant (karlbradley@extension.org)
Technology Solutions
- Mark Locklear, Project Manager II, (marklocklear@extension.org)
- Larry Lippke, Campus/Catalog Administrator (llippke@extension.org)
Our Board of Directors
Voting Members
North Central Region
Gregg Hadley, Chair
Associate Professor & Director of Extension
Kansas State University
1890 Region
VACANT
Western Region
Vicki McCracken, Treasurer
Associate Dean & Director of Extension
Washington State University
Southern Region
Damona Doye
Associate Vice President
Oklahoma State University
Northeastern Region
Lisa Townson
Associate Dean, Extension and Agricultural Programs
University of Rhode Island
1994 Region
Brian Kowalkowski
Dean of Continuing Education
College of Menominee Nation
Ex-Officio
Extension Committee on Organization & Policy (ECOP)
Caroline Henney
Executive Director
Cooperative Extension
Extension Committee on Organization & Policy (ECOP)
Ex-Officio
Roger Rennekamp
Extension Health Director
Cooperative Extension
Extension Committee on Organization & Policy (ECOP)
Ex-Officio
USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Suzanne Stluka
Division Director
Family & Consumer Sciences, Youth & 4-H
USDA-NIFA