Posts Tagged: Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty

UC ANR Interim Director for County Cooperative Extension

As you know David Bunn, our recent Director of County Cooperative Extension, retired earlier this month. We have had a number of leadership changes recently and I am very cognizant of the need for internal continuity across the organization. After carefully considering options, we have arrived at an interim leadership structure to preserve the integrity and effectiveness of our county extension efforts. Key changes are outlined below and illustrated in the attached interim org chart.

I am pleased to announce that Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty has agreed to step into a 50% assignment as Interim Director of County Cooperative Extension. 

I know that all of you have worked with Lynn in her role as Director of our statewide 4-H Youth Development Program. Lynn also served as a County Director for 7 years and is very familiar with the work and opportunities of our county offices and programs. She is a strong champion of all county-based research and extension. All County Directors will report to Lynn. She will continue in her role as Director of the Statewide 4-H Youth Development Program (50%) and will also continue to serve as the Strategic Initiative Leader for Healthy Families & Communities.  

Keith Nathaniel and Steven Worker have each agreed to take on a 25% Interim Assistant 4-H Youth Development Program Director role. Keith will focus on leading the 4-H staffing plan and Steven will focus on implementation of the 4-H 2018-2028 Strategic Plan. Both Keith and Steven are well-suited for these roles as they were intimately involved with the development of these respective plans. Their knowledge and leadership will ensure a smooth transition for everyone. 

I know that we now have a number of interim leaders across the organization. I am grateful for their passion and dedication to the UC ANR mission and their desire to ensure that we continue to serve the communities of California as a strong and cohesive organization. The search for a permanent Associate Vice President is about to begin; we expect to be posting it shortly. Once that person is in place, we will take the opportunity to consider how our programmatic leadership structure can best position UC ANR for future success. While the search is underway, please offer these interim leaders your support in any way you can.

I will overview this new structure at the October 7 research and extension center and county directors meeting and at the October 20 Town Hall.

In addition, Lynn will host open “office hours” on Monday, October 3 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and again on October 4 from 2-3 p.m. If anyone would like to hop on a Zoom to ask questions or just chat, the Zoom links are listed below. 

• October 3 from 11 a.m. to noon: https://UCOP.zoom.us/j/95139507968?pwd=anIzQlFGTnRzS2RUa3JTempaaFc2QT09
• October 4 from 2 to 3 p.m.:  https://UCOP.zoom.us/j/97250695251?pwd=TkxoR1dsS2gyWTNaRU9ZSFJCVm43QT09

If you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, Deanne Meyer, Tu Tran or Kathy Eftekhari.  

Best wishes,

Glenda

Glenda Humiston
Vice President

Assistant Vice Provosts named

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Darren Haver and Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty have accepted Assistant Vice Provost appointments. The Assistant Vice Provosts are 25 percent positions to oversee special projects and serve as the coordinators for the Research and Extension Council (expanded from the former CD Council).

Darren Haver has been appointed to a two-year term as Assistant Vice Provost – RECs, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Darren has served as the interim associate director of the Research and Extension Center system since Oct. 1, 2017. In addition to his Assistant Vice Provost appointment, Darren is a UC Cooperative Extension water resources advisor in Orange County, director of South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine since 2009, and director of UC Cooperative Extension in Orange County since 2011. Haver joined UC ANR in 2002.

Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty has been appointed to a two-year term as Assistant Vice Provost – County Directors, effective January 1, 2018. Lynn joined UC Cooperative Extension in 1996 as a 4-H Program Representative in Butte and Placer counties and at the State 4-H Office. In 2001, Schmitt-McQuitty became the Youth Development Advisor in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, and added San Benito County to her appointment in 2012 as the Youth Development Advisor and County Director.

Lynn and Darren bring a wealth of experience to these inaugural appointments and will help shape the work of the Assistant Vice Provost appointments as support for and under the direction of the Vice Provost – Research and Extension (search underway). The Vice Provost – Research and Extension serves as the first point of contact for REC Directors and County Directors. While we continue our efforts to fill the Vice Provost position, the UC ANR Associate Vice President will be that first point of contact.

Please join me in congratulating and supporting Darren and Lynn in their new appointments.

Regards,

Wendy Powers
Associate Vice President

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