UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A reorganization of Penn State Extension that has been under way during the last two years has taken additional steps toward completion.
In a move to implement a new model of program delivery, the organization has appointed program leaders who will spearhead development of statewide educational programming that is structured around expertise and focused on addressing the needs of key industries and audiences.
To streamline the administration of offices statewide, Extension also has named 19 district directors -- each of whom will oversee two to five county offices -- as well as two directors who will manage the offices in the urban counties of Allegheny and Philadelphia.
"The revamping of program development represents a shift from a geographic-based approach to an audience-based approach, focusing on agricultural sector needs and priority issues," said Dennis Calvin, director of Penn State Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
He noted that program leaders will oversee teams of faculty specialists and field-based educators to develop relevant, high-quality, research-based information and programs for delivery in the counties, wherever they are needed across the state.
"The model is designed to provide statewide access to expertise and a visible point of contact," Calvin said. "It also will focus programs on areas of excellence in the College of Agricultural Sciences in which we can make unique contributions to the state's food and fiber system, ecosystems, communities and local economies."
All field-based extension educators and College of Agricultural Sciences faculty with extension responsibilities will serve on one program team. Following are Extension's new program areas and leaders:
-- Plant Systems (field and forage crops, renewable natural resources): Paul Craig, agriculture extension educator currently based in Dauphin County.
-- Plant Systems (horticulture): Michael Masiuk, horticulture extension educator currently based in Allegheny County.
-- Animal Systems (dairy, poultry, livestock, equine): Chester Hughes, livestock extension educator currently based in Lancaster County.
-- Food and Health Sciences (family and consumer science): Marilyn Corbin, formerly state program leader for children, youth and families.
-- Food and Health Sciences (food safety, quality and processing): John Floros, professor and head of food science. This is a temporary role for Floros, who will become dean of the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University on Aug. 1.
-- Ag Entrepreneurship and Economic/Community Development: Jeffrey Hyde, associate professor of agricultural economics.
-- 4-H Youth Development: Christy Bartley, who has served as 4-H program leader since 2003.
The move to create administrative districts will enable Extension to maintain a presence in all 67 counties through strategic distribution of district directors and extension educators, according to Calvin. The district directors will coordinate administrative services such as information technology, financial processing, program registration, human resources and communications.
Following are the district directors, all of whom formerly served as county extension directors:
-- District 1 (Erie, Crawford, Mercer): Dave Dowler
-- District 2 (Warren, Venango, Forest, Clarion): Jeff Fowler
-- District 3 (McKean, Potter, Elk, Cameron, Jefferson): Don Tanner
-- District 4 (Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Sullivan): Bob Hansen
-- District 5 (Lawrence, Butler, Beaver): Janice Hassen
-- District 6 (Armstrong, Indiana, Westmoreland): Gary Sheppard
-- District 7 (Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming, Centre): Craig Altemose
-- District 8 (Luzerne, Wyoming, Lackawanna): Terry Schettini
-- District 9 (Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Carbon): Nancy Grotevant
-- District 10 (Washington, Greene, Fayette): Carolyn Wissenbach
-- District 11 (Somerset, Cambria, Bedford): Janice Stoudnour
-- District 12 (Blair, Huntingdon, Fulton): Stan McKee
-- District 13 (Mifflin & Juniata): Tom Walker
-- District 14 (Union, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland): Ken Balliet
-- District 15 (Cumberland, Perry, Dauphin): Dave Swartz
-- District 16 (Franklin, Adams, York): Nina Redding
-- District 17 (Lebanon, Lancaster, Chester): Leon Ressler
-- District 18 (Berks, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Northampton): Richard Kauffman
-- District 19 (Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware): Nancy Stevens
-- Allegheny County: Michael Masiuk
-- Philadelphia County: John Byrnes
"The district model allowed us to increase our focus on programming by maximizing the number of educators delivering programs," Calvin said. "More than 30 former county extension directors who did not take on a district-director role now have shifted from administrative to programmatic responsibilities and are spending 100 percent of their time on developing and conducting educational programs."
The district reorganization also is expected to increase efficiency and cost savings by eliminating duplication and overhead and by standardizing administrative processes, Calvin noted.
More information about Penn State Extension's restructuring is available online at http://agsci.psu.edu/ag-futures/extension-restructuring-proposal online.