CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 09/23/24

UGA Extension leadership program chooses new cohort

By Maria M. Lameiras
A group of 19 early and mid career professionals pose together for a photo in an outdoor setting with trees in the background.
The 2023-24 cohort of the Extension Academy of Professional Excellence graduated from the program in April. Pictured are (back row, left to right) facilitators Lauren Griffeth and James Anderson and participants Justin Hand, Allie Griner, Brad Avril, La Keisha Levi, Matt Hammons, Jay Lessl, Jay Porter, Jacob Williams, Ben Campbell, (front row, left to right) Maria Bowie, Campbell Vaughn, Leslie Thomas, Bhabesh Dutta, Sydni Ingram, Megan Veal, Jackie Nunn, Josie Davi and LaZavia Grier.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension has selected 15 professionals from throughout the state to participate in the 2024-25 cohort of the Extension Academy for Professional Excellence, a program aimed at developing the next generation of Extension leaders.

The program, which launched in 2003, was developed to provide leadership skills training to early- and mid-career Extension agents, state specialists and faculty from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Participants in the leadership program are current and emerging professional and academic leaders interested in enhancing their leadership skills.

2024-25 leadership cohort

Following in the footsteps of 187 past graduates of the program, this year’s Extension Academy participants are:

  • Valerie Bennett, 4-H Extension agent, Colquitt County, Southwest District
  • Brett Blaauw, associate professor, CAES Department of Entomology
  • Georgeanne Cook, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent, Tift County, Southwest District
  • Kristen Ford, 4-H Extension agent, Worth County, Southwest District
  • Ashleigh Geurin, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent, Candler and Evans counties, Southeast District
  • Randie Gray, 4-H Extension agent, Hancock County, Northeast District
  • Laura Lee Hughes, 4-H Extension agent, Ben Hill County, Southwest District
  • Rolando Orellana, UGA Extension Urban Water Management agent
  • Victoria Presnal, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent, Carroll County, Northwest District
  • Samantha Price, 4-H Extension agent, Houston County, Southwest District
  • Abbie Salmon, 4-H Extension agent, Floyd County, Northeast District
  • Katrina Searcy, 4-H Extension agent, Cook County, Southwest District
  • Robyn Stewart, county Extension coordinator and Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, Lincoln County, Northeast District
  • Savannah Tanner, county Extension coordinator and Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, Emanuel County, Southeast District
  • Jennifer Tucker, associate professor, CAES Department of Animal and Dairy Science

The program is comprised of three institutes held during the academic year, each focused on personal and professional growth, leadership style, conflict resolution and more.

"Extension Academy for Professional Excellence empowers individuals to enhance their leadership skills and fosters a culture of continuous learning. Graduates from our program frequently take on leadership roles within UGA Extension, demonstrating the impact of our training. By equipping participants with the tools and knowledge they need to excel, we are investing not only in their professional growth but also in the future success of our organization and the communities we serve,” said Lauren Griffeth, UGA Extension leadership specialist and organizer of the academy.

In communities across Georgia, UGA Extension professionals are giving their neighbors access to the full scope of resources available at UGA, the birthplace of public higher education in the United States. To learn more, visit extension.uga.edu.

Maria M. Lameiras is a managing editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Maria M. Lameiras
Experts/Sources:
Lauren Ledbetter Griffeth
U.S. Capitol CAES News
CAES alum balances ag policy and cancer advocacy 09/11/24 Jordan Powers
For Sadie Lackey, graduating college during a global pandemic was never part of the plan. Nor was being diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma nearly three years later at age 25. Lackey’s cancer diagnosis meant shifting her goals into strategic career decisions based on her health — all while maintaining her passion for agricultural policy. “I really love ag policy, and I love that I’m surrounded by it and get to nerd out and learn every day, but it’s also important to look at your career holistically,” Lackey said.
CAES AgFellows April 2024 SeanMontgomery 1 CAES News
Congressional Agricultural Fellowship offers students a look behind the political curtain  09/04/24 Liz Newlin
The Congressional Agricultural Fellowship is a transformative program for students in the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, offering unique opportunities to engage with the legislative process and gain practical experience in agricultural policy. In partnership with the offices of U.S. representatives Sanford Bishop, Austin Scott, Buddy Carter and Raphael Warnock, CAES offers a prestigious 12-week summer fellowship program that provides selected students with firsthand exposure to the legislative process and the creation of agriculture policy. 
2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate who went on to earn a master’s degree in 1982 and education specialist degree in 1984 from UGA’s College of Education. CAES News
Innovator, educator inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame 04/11/24 Maria M. Lameiras
An innovator in peanut breeding whose research revitalized an industry and an ardent champion of agricultural education were inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame at the 68th University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association Awards in Athens. The 2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate.
Food insecurity, indicated by a lack of consistent access to nutritious foods, continues to affect Georgia families and poses unique obstacles to charitable food assistance programs trying to address the need. CAES News
Unprecedented hunger study addresses gaps in food assistance programs 03/26/24 Cal Powell
Food insecurity, indicated by a lack of consistent access to nutritious foods, continues to affect Georgia families and poses unique obstacles to charitable food assistance programs trying to address the need. The 2023 Georgia Hunger Study, conducted by an interdisciplinary team of University of Georgia researchers in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Human Services and Feeding Georgia, found that 79% of households utilizing charitable food agencies reported experiencing food insecurity.
03 20 2024 Farm Stress Summit Allisen Penn and panel 048 CAES News
2024 Farm Stress Summit provides mental health resources for Georgia farm communities 03/25/24 Jordan Powers
As Georgia’s No. 1 industry, agriculture pumps billions of dollars into the state’s economy each year. While headlines often highlight Georgia’s commodities — peanuts, blueberries, poultry and more — one aspect of agriculture is often not discussed, the farmers themselves. At the 2024 Farm Stress Summit, held at the Chattahoochee Technical College Jasper campus, a few critical points were woven throughout each of the day’s sessions: The people are the most important part of Georgia’s agricultural industry, and the state needs to come together to help farmers and promote agricultural education and awareness.  
A recent CAES study shows that consumers want retailers to provide basic information about the environmental impacts of local food when purchasing food online. CAES News
Consumer interest in sustainability should influence how retailers market local food 03/07/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Two recently published studies by University of Georgia researchers show that the consumers surveyed believe buying local is a more sustainable option, but they also value the convenience of online shopping and prefer that retailers provide basic information about the environmental impact of local products in the digital marketplace. Driven by increasing consumer interest in buying local and concerns about the impact of agricultural production systems on a changing climate, the studies were based on data from a web-based survey about consumer interest in sustainability, information about food production and online marketing preferences.