EDA Team Update

          Lyla Houglum           

Lyla Houglum, Executive Director, Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA), will retire at the end of this month after 16+ years. In her national role as a member of the Executive Directors and Administrator (EDA) Team, she provides leadership and support for activities of the Cooperative Extension Section (CES) and ECOP. She served as Chair of CES/ECOP in 2002. In her 43-year Extension career, Lyla received the prestigious National Distinguished Service Ruby Award and Visionary Leadership Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Honorary, the USDA Team Honor Award for Excellence, the Alberta B. Johnston Award for Extension Leadership, Oscar Haag Communication Award, the 4-H Distinguished Service Award, J.C. Penny Company Fellowship, and the Florence Hall Award. She was inducted into the Academy of Community Engaged Scholarship in 2017. Lyla is Professor Emeritus of Oregon State University. CES Members will have an opportunity to extend best wishes to Lyla at NEDA, during the Annual Business Meeting on October 14. 

Doreen Hauser-Lindstrom 

Doreen Hauser-Lindstrom, with 30+ years of professional Extension experience at three Land-grant Universities, serving in county, state specialist, and administrative unit leadership positions, follows Lyla as a member of the EDA Team. She started as Executive Director of WEDA on August 1, 2021. She is a LEAD-21 graduate located at Washington State University. For starters in her national role, Doreen will join the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee. Please join the EDA Team and ECOP in congratulating and welcoming Doreen as she transitions to this new role!  Team orientation begins this coming Friday. 

Historical Note: In 2008, CES voted to approve the formation of the EDA Team. In 2015, the ECOP Professional Development Committee (formerly Personnel) conducted a  formal review of the Team with results described on pages 1 and 2 here. The activities and influence of the Team were informally reviewed at the 2021 ECOP Spring meeting. 

National Academies of Sciences Blue Ribbon Panel Nominations due by August 18 - At last week's ECOP Executive Committee Meeting, Extension leaders were reminded to nominate champions of the tripartite University Land-grant System, Extension, research, and education including those from HBCUs for membership to 10-person ad hoc committee (Blue Ribbon Panel) that is best explained here. It is optional but helpful to upload a CV of the individual(s) nominated. The gateway to submit is found here. Direct questions to Robin Schoen, 202-334-2236.

4-H Pathways Institute Opportunity-Apply by August 25 - Cooperative Extension Section members who have not already participated in the 4-H Pathways Leadership Institute, are encouraged to apply for Level 1, an intensive, two-day leadership program that will take place virtually on October 27 and 28. According to its official workplan, the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee formed a Pathways team "to develop a guiding framework for the 4-H system’s efforts to meet the 4-H growth goals and vision of reaching 10 million youth by 2025, in addition to developing pathways for building leadership capacity among current and future administrative leaders of the 4-H program." The team includes National 4-H Council, and Changing Our World, Inc., a social impact consulting firm that advises leading corporations and nonprofit organizations. The institute equips 3-person teams (Specialist, Extension Director or Administrator, and Land-grant University Leader) with tools to achieve strategic change and growth for 4-H programs in alignment with the broader goals of  respective Universities. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions are here or contact Co-chair, Andy Turner, Cornell University, and Apply here by August 25.