November 6, 2018
Extension Program Team Convening
As you probably read in Gregg's message last Tuesday, we have identified the first ever team of Program Leader Coordinators! I am very happy to welcome Trudy Rice, Gayle Price and Robin Reid to join Wade Weber, Laurie Chandler and I to begin our work to further address our Grand Challenges in some cross-cutting ways. The other two important members of the team, Julie Riniker and Linda Lamb, will be there to support us as we inevitably come up with much more work for them!!
Since these are new positions, we will be feeling our way for awhile. But, expect to see some increased communication with your Program Focus Team Leadership and the departmental program leaders. Our PFTs have been doing a great job of increasing the capacity of KSRE to do stronger educational programs. This team will help us address issues that need more than one team involved, and that is something you have been asking for over the last few years.
In addition to that work, they will help in screening of agent applications, connecting with program leaders in other states, supporting the programming with a purpose training, finding resources and connecting with other stakeholders as appropriate. They have committed only 15% of their time to their new role, so I will be watching myself, especially, to be sure I am not asking too much of them!! I am sure you will help in that too.
I am pleased to report that they are each excited to be doing this. I have already seen their enthusiasm through email communications with each other. I think it is going to be quite the team and we are all lucky to have them on board!! I hope that you will welcome them all into these new roles!