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K-State Research and Extension
123 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-3401
785-532-5820
extadmin@ksu.edu

May 11, 2021

Eastern Regional Extension Director Named

Submitted by Chris Onstad

Congratulations to Carla Nemecek! She has accepted the position of Eastern Regional Extension Director starting May 31. When you have a moment, please welcome her into her new role.

Ms. Nemecek is a Kansas native with a BS in Animal Science and Industry (1996) and a MS in Agriculture Animal Science (1999), both from Kansas State University. She began her career in 1997 as the Agriculture & Natural Resource Extension agent in Haskell County. In 2005, Carla moved back across the state to Allen County where she became the county director. The Southwind Extension District consisting of Allen, Bourbon, Neosho and Woodson counties formed in 2010, where she was hired as the director of the newly created district. The district received the KSRE Local Unit of the Year in 2019!

Carla has been an active member of the Kansas Association of County Agriculture Agents, holding several officer positions including president, secretary/treasurer, president-elect, vice-president, and SE director. She also served on many NACAA committee positions over the years and represented the association at the national level and was a founding member of the KACAA Educational Scholarship.

Professional development is important to Carla. Recently, she and the other district employees invested significant time addressing diversity and inclusion issues, incorporating important learning topics such as Building Essential Strategies for Racial Justice and Inclusion and presenting state-wide on their district efforts to be more inclusive.

Carla has committed to continued leadership opportunities throughout the years by looking at new opportunities like the Master Remote Work Leadership Course and the eXtension Impact Collaborative Summit and receiving certification for Adult Mental Health First Aid just to name a few. More traditional opportunities were obtained in the Kansas Leadership Center, JCEP Leadership conference and with the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Extension Professionals providing a foundation to her leadership knowledge and experiences.

A quick look at her list of accomplishments over the years will find several team orientated awards including the Outstanding Program Focus Team Award and the Farm Bill Education Team Award. She also received the NACAA Achievement Award and the Outstanding Mentor Award.

Like any solid Extension professional, Carla is very involved in her community, showing support to the local school district, Community Foundation, Allen County Community College, Farm Bureau, and KSU Alumni Association just to name a few!

Thank you again to the great work of the search committee: Mary Sullivan, Tara Markley, Will Morris, Matt Young, David Key, Shay Strubinger, Penny Adams and Sharolyn Jackson. A note of appreciation and recognition to our other quality candidate, Marlin Bates.

Congratulations Carla and good luck in your new role!