Posts Tagged: extension

Haver named REC System director

It is my pleasure to announce that Darren Haver has accepted the position of Director of the Research and Extension Center System, effective July 1, 2023. 

Darren, who joined UC ANR in 1999 as a postgraduate researcher, has worked his way up the UC Cooperative Extension ranks. He started as a UCCE water quality program representative in 2001, served as watershed management associate advisor for Orange and San Diego counties from 2003 to 2007, then became water resources/water quality advisor for Orange and Riverside counties in 2007 to 2009.

He has been the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center director and UC Cooperative Extension water resources advisor for Orange County since 2009. From 2011 to 2020, Darren added UCCE director for Orange County to his responsibilities. For the past five years, he has served as associate director of the REC system.

As REC system director, Darren will provide coordination, leadership and advocacy for the nine research and extension centers and oversee the REC Administrative Office. Working closely with me, he will implement the REC system's strategic plan and improve connections between research, extension and outreach functions.

He will be working with the Executive Director of Resources Planning and Management, the Director of Facilities Planning and Management and REC personnel at all nine RECs on capital projects.

Darren is the quintessential leader. He is the perfect choice to lead our research and extension centers across California. His collaborative approach and experience with the REC system will bring stability and a uniformity of practices with researchers, growing organizations and the public. We are very excited to watch the REC system grow under his leadership and that of our outstanding REC directors. 

Darren will remain based at UC South Coast REC, but we will be recruiting to fill the UC South Coast REC director position.

I hope you will join me in wishing Darren success as Director of the Research and Extension Center System.

Brent Hales
Associate Vice President, Programming and Strategic Initiatives

Schmitt-McQuitty named Director of County Cooperative Extension

I am pleased to announce the selection of Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty as Director of County Cooperative Extension effective Oct. 1. Lynn has served a 50% assignment as interim Director of County Cooperative Extension since David Bunn retired in September 2022 and 50% Director of our statewide 4-H Youth Development Program.

The Director of County Cooperative Extension position was created to provide leadership to the county office administration. The direct supervision of county director positions is something that we take very seriously and Lynn, who served as a county director for seven years, has and continues to provide the highest possible levels of guidance and oversight for our county offices and programs. Her vast experience with the land-grant system and her knowledge of ANR operations make her more than qualified to serve as the Director of County Cooperative Extension. I have absolute confidence in her abilities to lead in our organization.

While the 4-H leadership position is under recruitment, Lynn will serve as interim Statewide 4-H Director with continuing assistance from Keith Nathaniel and Steven Worker, who each have 25% Interim Assistant 4-H Youth Development Program Director roles.

Lynn is also serving as the Healthy Families and Communities Strategic Initiative Leader until a new leader is chosen to begin on Nov. 1.

Please join me in congratulating Lynn on her new leadership role.

Brent D. Hales
Associate Vice President for Research and Cooperative Extension

Internet Outage at Sierra Foothill REC

UPDATE FEB. 22: Internet and phone service has been restored.

Sierra Foothill REC's internet has been down since Sunday. Michele Flavell, business officer at Sierra Foothill REC, wants to let everyone know that they don't have access to phones at all and email is extremely limited. If you have called or emailed Sierra Foothill REC recently, the staff may not have received your message. IT is working on solving the issue. 

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

RREA grant proposals for projects, student interns due July 1

The UC ANR Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) Statewide Program is soliciting proposals for projects that will develop and/or support new or existing UC Cooperative Extension projects and/or activities that address the educational and extension needs in the management of California's valuable renewable resources on forest and rangeland.

The primary purpose of this program is to promote proper management of these resources, especially on private lands, and to provide the information, education and training needed by Extension personnel, landowners, land managers and natural resource professionals. Maximum award is $15,000 per project.

RREA is also accepting proposals that will use the services and talents of student interns. Internships are open to undergraduate or graduate students from any institution of higher education in California, particularly the University of California and the California State University.

Principal investigators will not be granted additional RREA funds to pay for supplemental costs associated with the project. Student interns are expected to work on projects or activities that address educational and extension needs in the management of California's renewable resources. Intern proposals must demonstrate the connection to UC Cooperative Extension (county or campus office). Interns will be funded up to $6,000.

Submission deadline is 5 p.m. on July 1, 2022. For details and to apply, log into the ANR Portal and click on the "2022-2023 RREA Project & Student Intern Grants" link or https://ucanr.edu/urs/propstart.cfm?authorgrantnumber=280.

For questions about the submission process please contact Sarah Shroyer, UC ANR Program Planning and Evaluation research administrator, at sshroyer@ucanr.edu.

 

 

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