Our Mission
Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs, and opportunities.
In This Issue
ANR innovation counselors
Rector and Moore
receive honors
University Outreach to support two concepts
Dionardo Pizaña receives award
New Michigan Sea Grant Director
Back row left to right:Ned Birkey, Wendy Wieland, Mike Score, Dennis Stein, Mark Seamon, Steve Siegelin, Ron Steiner. Front row left to right: Bob Craig, Paul Gross, Marilyn Thelen, Kristine Fedewa, Jim Bardenhagen, Van Varner.
MSU product center innovation counselors complete training
Thirteen individuals recently completed training as agriculture and natural resources (ANR) innovation counselors through the Michigan State University (MSU) Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources. The center will then work with promising projects and entrepreneurs in further developing their projects.
They received certificates of completion during a Jan. 8 program at MSU. Based across the state, they will guide clients interested in developing agriculture or natural resource-based products from start-up through development, testing and marketing. Counselors help identify, establish and nurture market and product development opportunities.
The complete list of counselors and their locations can be found on the product center’s Web site at http://www.aec.msu.edu/product/.
Rector, Moore receive Distinguished Academic Staff awards
Natalie Rector and Elizabeth Moore have been named recipients of Michigan State University (MSU) Distinguished Academic Staff awards.Rector, Extension manure management agent in southwest Michigan, joined MSUE in 1980, as an Extension agricultural agent in Lapeer County. Her work focuses on helping producers manage livestock in an economical, environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner.
She is recognized for her exceptional teaching skills, commitment to empowering others, and the effort she puts into getting the job done.Moore, an Extension public policy specialist, has worked for MSUE for 24 years. She has been committed to improving the public policy process and providing educational resources to frame public policy. Moore also recently received the Outstanding Specialist award from the MSU Extension Specialist Association. Staff is invited to attend a reception honoring the two on Feb. 10 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Agriculture Hall atrium. RSVP to Kathy Jones at (517) 355-6473 or e-mail jonesk@msue.msu.edu.
Extension Outreach and Engagement community-based research projects
The Community Development AoE with Pat Crawford and Warren Rauhe, Department of Landscape Architecture, were approved for developing a three-year proposal to obtain feedback from communities that have participated in the Small Town Design Initiative (STDI). The project will attempt to measure the effectiveness of the communities’ participation in the STDI program. The employed methodology will serve as a model for future researchers desiring to measure community participation effectiveness.
The Tourism
AoE with Don
Holecek, Travel and Tourism Center; Kay Cummings, Newaygo CED; and Andrew
Lofgren, Newaygo County Economic Development office, were approved for
developing a proposal to strengthen regional tourism in an area that
has not benefited from tourism as expected, given its geographical location.
The investigators will link with the MSUE Tourism Area of Expertise Team
in mobilizing community resources in the region to enhance economic development
from tourism. Information about the Extension Outreach & Engagement
grant cycle can be found at http://ntweb4.ais.msu.edu/grants.asp.
Concept papers for the next round are due Feb. 15.
New members named to MSU Extension and Experiment Station Council
The following individuals have been named to two-year terms on the MSU Extension and Experiment Station Council:
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| A complete roster of council members can be found at http://www.msue.msu.edu/iac/council/. |
Dionardo Pizaña receives community service award
Dionardo Pizaña, recently received a Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Service Award in Lenawee County. Pizaña was recognized for his leadership and life long commitment to issues of diversity and multiculturalism, including his work at Siena Heights University, at Adrian College and for MSU Extension. Those efforts include bringing in scholars and speakers to the colleges and local schools, developing and presenting powerful community educational events and working with a local effort that provides multicultural children’s books and training to elementary schools.
Donald Scavia named new director of Michigan Sea Grant
Donald Scavia has been named director of the Michigan Sea Grant College Program and professor in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) at the University of Michigan.
Scavia received his Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan in 1980.He established and directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science in Silver Spring, Md., and later served as chief scientist for the National Ocean Service.
The portal implementation has begun to pick up speed. During the first two weeks in February, the campus implementation team and the vendor will review the software. If all goes well, train-the-trainer sessions will be immediately scheduled. The skeleton of the portal system is being created. This includes packaging the information in the main MSUE portal as well as creating the individual county portal instances.
Two applications may be useful during training and for supporting users immediately after training. The learning module server is much like Angel or Blackboard, and the collaboration server allows for online meetings with video, audio and whiteboard. Students are working on these applications to make sure they are working and to assure support for users. To see a list of trainers and get updated portal information, visit http://ceenet.msue.msu.edu/home/portal/portalpage.html.
As always, questions about portal implementation can be directed to Randy Heatley, heatley@msue.msu.edu or Cindy Straus, strausc@msue.msu.edu.
AoE Competitive grants awarded
Competitive grants were awarded to the following AoE teams:
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Catalyst for Change Committee
MSUE has made substantial investment in MSUE’s commitment to advancing diversity and outreach to underserved Michigan populations. While progress has been made, particularly in increasing individual and interpersonal awareness and articulation of responsibility, we have much to do, especially at the organizational level. There are valid concerns and issues related to practices that stand in the way of MSUE accomplishing all that it can as a multi-cultural organization. A Catalyst for Change Committee has been established consisting of MSUE staff members from across the organization, CANR and MSU staff members. The committee has been asked to identify recommendations and alternatives in systems, policies and procedures related to creating positive multi-cultural change for consideration by the MSUE administrative team. This is a top priority in the year to come. Look for updates in coming months. Sandra Springer chairs the committee. For input into this effort, please contact her at: springes@msue.msu.edu.
Dean Armstrong is preparing to launch the search process for the next Extension director. He has proposed a two-phase search process for Provost Simon’s approval. Phase one will include hiring a firm to conduct focus groups on campus and across the state to gather participants’ views of the qualities needed for a successful MSUE director.
Participants will include individuals who are familiar with our programs and those who are not. They will also have the opportunity to make comments on the direction of MSUE.
After the firm reports on the focus group process results, a search committee representing Extension staff on and off campus, several colleges, MSU Extension and Experiment Station Council, stakeholders and University Outreach will be formed and a search firm employed, and the search will proceed.
The dean is committed to conducting a national search and involving all levels of the organization in the process. He is stressing the importance of conducting a thorough, customer-driven process as an investment in the future for a strong MSUE.
Mark your calendar for the 2004 Fall Conference, Oct. 11-14. The conference will be held at the MSU Kellogg Center. A committee is being assembled. Exact dates and conference costs will be provided once the official planning committee meets.
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