New Administrator Orientation Program Webinar on Oct. 23

On behalf of Dr. Chris Daubert, Chair of the Administrative Heads Section (AHS), we would like to invite you to join an upcoming webinar on the use of social media as a new administrator.  This webinar is part of the 2025 New Administrators Orientation (NAO) program that has a blended format of Zoom meetings and two in-person meetings (the final in-person meeting will be held at the conclusion of the APLU Annual Meeting in Philadelphia PA).  We feel that this topic is both timely and relevant for administrators in today’s social media environment.

Webinar Specifics:

Webinar Title: Effectively Navigating Social Media as a New Administrator

October 23, from 4:00-5:15 pm Eastern.

North American Agricultural Advisory Network

The North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) is a North American platform among extension and rural advisory services organizations promoting and supporting innovation, knowledge utilization, and information sharing in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. They share North American best practices and facilitate learning from global expertise.

You are invited to join NAAAN on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 10-11 a.m. MST for the CONVERSATION on NAAAN CONNECT with the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities. This conversation will focus on the cross-border efforts of APLU and invite a discussion around new opportunities for collaboration. Featured speakers include Waded Cruzado, President of APLU, and Doug Steele, Vice President of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at APLU.

See more information and register.

New ECOP Chair shares implementation recommendations to agInnovation

Via email last week, Lisa Townson shared some recommendations on the implementation of the Research Facilities Act:

It is vital that stakeholders, particularly but not exclusively farmers and ranchers, achieve the maximum benefit from this historic investment. While every institution is different, for most institutions this will mean balancing research facility investments on campus and off campus. These off-campus facilities are an important part of demonstrating an innovation’s relevance to local conditions, including soil types, weather patterns, and ecosystems. They provide context specific knowledge that can directly lead to the next logical adoption step, on-operation trial. Investment in these off-campus facilities has the added benefit of widening the perceived value to a broader cross section of the state’s or territory’s citizenry.

Further, as we invest in off-campus research facilities, it is important that these investments include state of the art Extension facilities, capable of demonstrating innovations in the most effective possible manner. Any investment in research facilities without a clear vision and plan to ultimately communicate the resulting innovation to producers would be short-sighted.

Finally, the implementation of this program should not be rushed. The process for making such a large federal investment should allow time for states and territories to consult with stakeholders of all varieties, particularly farmers and ranchers, and undertake local planning processes to leverage this investment to the maximum possible benefit. 

On campus discussions are encouraged among Agricultural Experiment Station Directors and Extension Directors and Administrators to maximize the ultimate demonstration benefit of this investment. These same sentiments will be communicated with NIFA with the hopes of giving them priority in the call for proposals, which is expected during the first quarter of calendar year 2026.  

Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program

The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program was authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) and empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem. Through innovative system-wide change, the RHT Program invests in the rural healthcare delivery ecosystem for future generations.
 
State Departments of Health are often implementing the program, and some are involving their Cooperative Extension Service as a subcontractor. Sources have indicated that the deadline for state submissions is November 5, 2025.

LEAD21 Applications Open Until November 15, 2025

LEAD21 is currently accepting applications for Class 22 (2026-2027). The primary purpose of LEAD21 is to develop leaders in land-grant institutions and their strategic partners to link research, academics and extension to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current position or as they aspire to new roles.

 The LEAD21 Board of Directors (BOD) consists of representatives from the various Board of Agriculture Assembly Section's Committees on Organization and Policy (headquartered at APLU) and strategic partners. More information and the link to apply is found here.

The ECOP appointees to LEAD21 BOD are Amy Loader, University of New Hampshire, and Program Chair Quentin Tyler, Michigan State University.

2025 Team Excellence in Extension Award – University of Wisconsin Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve team

Lake Superior is the largest freshwater surface on earth. There is 325 miles of Wisconsin coastline along this superlative body of water. Since Wisconsin Cooperative Extension led the federal designation in 2010, the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve team has led research, stewardship, and education efforts along the coast and the St. Louis River estuary. This exceptional place has drawn together a uniquely dedicated team. Staff believe their strong connections to the watershed and to their community resulted not only in this honor, but a better tomorrow for the estuary. Director Deanna Erickson, who is accepted this award at the 2025 NEDA conference, says that the collective commitment to land and water, especially in Wisconsin, will endure beyond our lifetime and the next.

Click to view video

JCEP Public Issues Leadership Development Conference Save the Date

The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) Public Issues Leadership Development Conference (PILD) will take place April 20-22, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda, MD.

Extension Leadership Conference Call for Proposals – Due October 17

Extension professionals, specialists, and administrators are invited to share their expertise at the 2026 Extension Leadership Conference (ELC), which will take place February 4^th and 5^th in Savannah, GA. This national event is designed to support, challenge, and inspire Extension professionals across all disciplines as they grow in their leadership journey. The conference will provide education and training in leadership and management skills essential for building confidence and capacity in today’s Extension leaders.

Important: Proposals should focus on building leadership skills rather than replicating subject-matter Extension programs.

Presentation Topics

Presentations should highlight leadership while drawing from diverse perspectives, which may include, but are not limited to:

• People skills and team development

• Planning tools and processes

• Effective communication strategies

• Leadership in a changing environment

• People management and supervision

• Incorporating both in-person and virtual program components

Congratulations Chris Sneed, University of Tennessee, your 2025 National Excellence in Extension Award Winner

Dr. Christopher Sneed is a tenured Associate Professor and Consumer Economics Specialist at the University of Tennessee. He began his UT career as an Employment Career Specialist and has since served in roles including Extension Agent, SNAP-Ed Social Marketing Specialist, Acting Director of SNAP-Ed and EFNEP, and Assistant Professor. He now leads statewide Extension programs in consumer economics for youth and adults. His work focuses on behavioral economics, workforce development, financial capability, and family resource management. Dr. Sneed also serves as Co-Principal Investigator of Skill Up Tennessee, UT Extension’s SNAP Employment and Training initiative. Promoted with tenure in 2024, he is nationally recognized for his contributions to teaching, research, and service. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed articles, over 80 Extension publications, and secured more than $36 million in external funding. Dr. Sneed remains active in the academic community through peer review, professional service, and leadership in national Extension and consumer economics organizations.

Please click here to view the video

Dr. Ben Carson accepts position at USDA, will lead Nutrition, Health, and Housing

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., was sworn in as the National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“There is no one more qualified than Dr. Carson to advise on policies that improve Americans’ everyday quality of life, from nutrition to healthcare quality to ensuring families have access to safe and stable housing,” said Secretary Rollins. “With six in ten Americans living with at least one chronic disease, and rural communities facing unique challenges with respect to adequate housing, Dr. Carson’s insight and experience is critical. Dr. Carson will be crucial to implementing the rural health investment provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill and advise on America First polices related to nutrition, health, and housing. As the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the first Trump Administration, Dr. Carson worked to expand opportunity and strengthen communities, and we are honored to welcome him to the second Trump Administration to help lead our efforts here at USDA to Make America Healthy Again and ensure rural America continues to prosper.”

Grants Modernization Update: Upcoming Training Opportunity and Key Updates for Applicants

NIFA is hosting training sessions in preparation for the transition to the eRA grants management system.  

Upcoming Training Opportunity – eRA Commons Account Management Webinar. 

In the first training, NIFA’s Grant Modernization Initiative (GMI) team and the National Institutes of Health eRA team will review eRA Commons account management. These sessions will cover account setup, user roles and system navigation. 

• When: Thursday, Oct. 7

• Sessions: 

• 2 p.m. EDT - Administrative Staff Only. Register here.

• 3 p.m. EDT - All Users. Register here.

Important: Choose the appropriate session for your role. If you are a Principal Investigator (PD/PI), register for the “All Users” session. The Administrative Staff session is specifically designed for staff responsible for managing user accounts within their organizations. 

Programs Transitioning to eRA in Q1 2026. Only some NIFA programs will be affected.  

2026 National 4-H Conference Information Session

NIFA will host the 2026 National 4-H Conference on April 10-15, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA. Known as “the Secretary’s Conference,” this Conference is the flagship youth development opportunity of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  

Visit the National 4-H Conference webpage to learn more. Join us for an Information Session about 2026 National 4-H Conference on Nov. 20 at 4:00 p.m. EST. Register Online. 

Smith Lever 3 (b) & (c) & 1890's Extension Request for Applications Expected out in two to three weeks

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provided an update on the progress of the FY 2026 Smith Lever 3 (b) & (c) and 1890s Extension Request for Applications (RFA) late last week. The Cooperative Extension System can expect the capacity RFA’s to be published within the next two to three weeks, including the Smith Lever 3 (b) & (c) and 1890s Extension RFAs.

AI Convening Report Available from the Extension Foundation

The Extension Foundation thanks Extension and agInnovation Directors and Administrators for their participation in Part I of the National AI Convening this past July.  The Extension Foundation has prepared a report summarizing key findings from the AI Landscape Survey and Part I of the Convening. 

National Impacts Database Training

There will be a virtual National Impacts Database (NIDB) training. For administrators and new and returning inputters, it will cover the basics of the NIDB, how submitted statements are used, and how to write effective impact statements. Register now for the training set for 2 p.m. EDT, Oct. 15.

Scott Huchins confirmed as USDA Research, Education, and Economics Under Secretary

The Senate has confirmed REE Under Secretary nominee, Scott Hutchins. Hutchins is one of three Under Secretaries confirmed late last week.