ECOP Members Recognized for National Leadership Service

At the ECOP Spring Meeting on April 11^th, Scott Reed, Oregon State University, (2016-2019), and Lou Swanson, Colorado State University, (2017-2019), were recognized for their national service. ECOP Chair Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, pictured to the left, presented these leaders with a small token of appreciation earlier than normal (usually done at NEDA meeting) due to their upcoming retirements. Scott (upper photo) and Lou (lower photo) will continue their national duties until retirement (Scott - end of July; Lou - September 8). ECOP will celebrate all national leadership accolades during the “recognitions” portion of the Annual Cooperative Extension Section Business Meeting on the morning of September 25, 2019 in Nashville. Registration for the Joint ESS/CES-NEDA meeting will be released next month.

Celebrating EFNEP - On April 9, 2019, ECOP established a resolution to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the grand accomplishments of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). The resolution, demonstrating the collective appreciation of the Cooperative Extension Section, was presented last week to Helen Chipman, National Program Leader for Food and Nutrition Education, USDA-NIFA, during the PILD conference in Crystal City, Arlington, VA. To learn more about the 50 years of impact go here and follow #EFNEP50th on Twitter.



Awards Deadline is About 1 Week Away - Extension Directors and Administrators should note that time is running out to prepare letters of support for the Excellence in Extension (EiE) Awards. Nominations for EiE awards (submitted by Region) and for the National Diversity in Extension Award (any individual or team may apply) must be submitted using an online form by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Wednesday, May 1. To learn more about these prestigious awards administered in partnership with USDA-NIFA go to www.aplu.org/CESawards or contact Sandy Ruble, sandyruble@extension.org or 202-478-6088.

eXtension Funds New Fellows for 2019 - eXtension announces the following individuals as Fellows for 2019. eXtension Fellows create a pathway for new work in high-priority topic areas, disseminated and used across the Cooperative Extension System.

  => Lindsey Lunsford, Tuskegee University. Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Fellow. Continuing the work of eXtension’s 2018 DEI Fellow, the focus of Lindsey's fellowship is to develop a second version of the DEI eFieldbook to be published with eXtension for the October 2019 Impact Collaborative Summit.

  => David Warren, Oklahoma State University. Artificial Intelligence Fellow. David will guide & frame a digital content scoping project which will be conducted by an eXtension technical partner in April, 2019.

  => Mike Masiuk, The Pennsylvania State University. Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) Fellow. In partnership with ECOP and eXtension, Mike Masiuk will develop a JCEP Extension and Engagement Core Competency Framework for Extension professionals.

Stay tuned for the announcement of Fellows representing Extension professional organizations such as ACE, NUEL, & NAEPSDP.



RWJF Research Funding Opportunity - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the private funding partner for Well-Connected Communities, is dedicated to building a Culture of Health—one where everyone in America has a fair opportunity for health and well-being. Directors and Administrators are invited to spread the word about RWJF’s latest funding opportunity. The Equity-Focused Policy Research Funding Opportunity is for researchers, state and local government agencies and public and private sector professionals, from a variety of fields who are interested in better understanding the use of income supports like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Programs. Ten grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 (for a total of $1.5 million) will fund research with the potential to impact 4 key areas. An optional webinar will occur May 3, 2019 (1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET); registration is required. The brief proposal deadline is Tuesday, May 21, 2019.