The Excellence in Extension Award is given to Cooperative Extension professionals who excel at programming, provides visionary leadership, and makes a positive impact on constituents served. Dr. Berry is an Extension specialist responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating consumer economics programs to support outreach through the University of Tennessee’s network of family and consumer science and 4-H youth development agents in 95 counties across the state. By conducting 124 teacher workshops, personal finance instruction reached 1.2 million high school students. The estimated impact of this Consumer Economics program is $297,261,026 since 2007.
Regional Excellence in Extension Awards:
- 1890s Region: Michelle L. Eley, Community and Economic Development Specialist, North Carolina A&T State University, for communication and economic development for underserved agricultural and rural audiences.
- North Central Region: Ashley L. Mueller, Extension Specialist, Disaster Education Coordinator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, for disaster education leading to increased community preparedness and resilience.
- Northeast Region: Harry Crissy, Business and Community Vitality Extension Educator, The Pennsylvania State University, for promoting access to broadband Internet.
- Southern Region: Robert C. Kemerait, Jr., Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, for advancing public understanding of managing major disease threats to Agronomic Crops.
- Western Region: Ana Lucia Fonseca, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist, Oregon State University, for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all learners.
Member Updates with Wendy Powers, ECOP Chair - Last week Members of the Cooperative Extension Section, were cordially invited to participate in ECOP’s First Friday Section Update event on November 5th from 3:00-4:00 PM ET. Important information will be shared directly with members with ample time discuss ideas, concerns, and emerging opportunities. These opportunities are part of Dr. Powers’ 2021-2022 Action Plan: To continue to develop and improve upon the understanding about the role of ECOP and ECOP activities, providing regular updates on ECOP activities, through the ECOP Monday Minute and virtual Section briefings. Extension Directors and Administrators are asked to keep the first Friday of each month (except August) open on their calendars from 3-4:30 PM ET for these sessions. Connection details may be obtained by contacting Sandy Ruble at sandyruble@extenssion.org,
Two Events Slated on Sustainability of Forest and Rangeland Resources - The 2021 McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research (MCSFR) and the Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) programs will hold two events (fall and spring) to identify opportunities, discuss challenges, and collaborate in addressing the sustainability of forest and rangeland resources through research, education, and extension strategies. The first meeting November 15 at 1 p.m. (ET) intends to connect MCSFR administrative technical representatives and RREA project directors through a series of talks, breakout groups, webinars, and guest speakers to learn about the latest changes in the reporting system, financial, and administrative management of the programs. For more information, go to the MSCFR and RREA webinar announcement.
USDA NIFA Civil Rights Compliance Review Schedule for FY 2022-2025 - Civil Rights (CR) compliance reviews are a tool to determine how benefits and services are delivered by NIFA-funded programs and activities. The collaborative reviews provide recipients of NIFA funding with technical assistance and strategies to improve access, equal opportunity, and program delivery. Onsite compliance reviews are conducted annually on a rotational basis for recipients in the U.S. and territories. The NIFA CR Compliance Review Schedule for 2022-2025 is available here.
