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Items of Interest
New Date: AI to Answers Webinar Moves to December 9th
The AI to Answers webinar featured last month has been rescheduled to Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT.
Already registered? You’ll receive an email with the updated details. Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time. In one practical hour, you will learn the AI fundamentals plus eight moves you can use the same week to draft reports, plans, and promotional materials faster, and leave AI to Answers Certified.
Register for the December 9 webinar.
Save the Date: Local and Regional Food Systems Tea & Coffee Hour Webinar
Professionals, educators, researchers, and community partners interested in local and regional food systems are invited to participate in the next Tea & Coffee Hour Webinar hosted by the Building Resilient Communities and Food Security Working Group.
The webinar will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. CT (2:00-3:00 p.m. ET) and is offered through the Local and Regional Food Systems multistate group. The series provides an opportunity for participants to connect, share ideas, and learn about efforts that support resilient communities and food security across the region.
Registration is required and can be completed online: Register for the Webinar. These webinars are open to all participants. Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. For accommodation requests or accessibility inquiries, contact Grace Layton Langford.
Southern Region Outdoor Recreation Inventory Assessment
On behalf of the National Extension Tourism Network Outdoor Recreation (OR) working group, we are developing a regional inventory of outdoor recreation related extension, outreach and research being conducted within the southern U.S. at land and sea grant institutions.
Your input will help us better define the scope of expertise and programming being conducted in our region as well as common issues and needs faced (Southern region: Texas through Virginia including Puerto Rico and the USVI, view the regional map). Outdoor recreation is inherently transdisciplinary, and it intersects and elevates all core Extension and Sea Grant program areas. Read more about this intersection. We are seeking broad input from those doing very limited or tangential work in outdoor recreation to those whose entire positions are dedicated to it. If you have any questions, please contact Ann Savage. Take the Assessment survey.
Regional Staff Spotlight
Building Bridges, Changing Lives, and Creating Lasting Impact
When Juana Macías-Christian left her native Honduras to attend Alabama A&M University on a full scholarship, she could not have known that the relationships she formed and opportunities she embraced would lead to a career dedicated to transforming lives across Alabama. Today, after 24 years with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Juana continues to serve as a trusted educator, advocate, and connector for residents of DeKalb and Marshall Counties, particularly within the Hispanic community.
Her journey reflects the values Extension seeks to promote education, service, and community engagement. After earning her undergraduate degree from Alabama A&M, Juana returned to Honduras, where she discovered a passion for teaching and community outreach. Inspired by the power of education to improve lives, she later returned to Alabama A&M to earn a master's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, a decision that opened the door to a career in Extension.
As an Urban Regional Extension Agent, Juana works across Community Economic Development, Human Health and Nutrition, and Food Safety. For more than two decades, she has built relationships that strengthen trust between Extension and communities that have often been underserved.
"The driving force has always been the people," Juana explains. Whether working with students, parents, teachers, business owners, or community partners, she remains motivated by helping others improve their quality of life.
One success story stands out. A high school sophomore participated in the Career Countdown program through the TRIO Summer Program while uncertain about his future. Through career exploration activities, he discovered a passion for culinary arts, pursued culinary school, and completed his training.
Years later, he told Juana:
"Without Career Countdown, I would have never applied to culinary school. I probably would have just worked at a fast-food restaurant."
For Juana, that conversation reinforced an important truth: one program, one opportunity, or one encouraging voice can change the direction of a person's life.
When asked what advice she would offer the next generation of Extension professionals, Juana's response is simple: "Adapt." As technology advances and community needs change, professionals must remain flexible, open to learning, and committed to finding new ways to connect with people.
Read the full article on the Alabama A&M University and Auburn University Extension website.
Job Postings
Associate Dean and Assistant Director, Human Sciences Extension at Auburn University
The College of Human Sciences (CHS) at Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) are seeking to fill the position of Associate Dean for Extension and Assistant Director for Human Sciences Extension Programs to begin no later than Fall 2026. This 12-month administrative position will fit within the organizational structures of CHS and ACES.
The Associate Dean/Assistant Director position reports jointly to the CHS Dean and the ACES Director. The position is classified as tenure track faculty with a joint CHS and ACES administrative appointment. The Associate Dean/Assistant Director provides vision and leadership in how Extension, research, academic programs, and other allied programs develop synergy to enhance collaborative research and evidence-based outcomes. The position is responsible for the coordination and integration of Extension programs that engage Alabama citizens in evidence-based programming and research to support the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
Contact the search committee co-chairs: Drs. Casey Mull and Elaine Moliason for questions.
Extension Learning and Development Program Director
Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension is seeking applicants for a position in program and staff development to oversee a newly established unit of Extension Learning and Development. This position requires a master’s degree, PhD preferred, in agricultural and extension education, leadership development, program development or a closely related discipline. This is a 12-month staff position and will be an engaged member of the Extension Leadership Team. Applicants must have 5 or more years of successful county/district/area or state Extension experience or related experience. Applications are being accepted now and will remain open until a candidate is hired. Applications will begin being reviewed mid-September.
View more information and apply for the Extension Learning and Development Program Director position
Request for Proposal: Production Management and Leadership, Journal of Extension
Extension Journal, Inc. invites proposals from individuals or organizations to provide production management and leadership for the Journal of Extension. This request for proposal (RFP) emphasizes the accomplishments most critical to journal operations, those that would add value, and opportunities to strengthen the Journal’s production capacity and success over time.
To submit, email the proposal or questions about the RFP process to Steve Siegelin, EJI Treasurer and RFP Chair. Submissions received by September 30, 2026, will receive the highest level of attention. Review will continue until a partnership is developed. For more information, please contact EJI Board Members: Lori Greiner, Asst Director of Publications, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Jenna Anding, JOE Senior Editor, or Theresa Ferrari, EJI President.
View more information for the Production Management and Leadership RFP for the Journal of Extension
Associate Vice President, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (DASNR) invites nominations and applications for Associate Vice President, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES). This position reports to the Vice President, Dean and Director of DASNR and serves as the chief operating officer of OCES. The Associate Vice President will provide transformative statewide, regional, and national leadership to ensure high-quality, relevant Extension programs addressing Oklahoma’s needs.
Responsibilities include:
- Lead long-range planning, program implementation, evaluation, and reporting.
- Oversee OCES personnel, programs, fiscal affairs, and daily operations.
- Expand funding through county, state, federal, and private sources.
- Strengthen relationships with legislators, community leaders, agricultural and natural resource organizations, and other stakeholders.
- Coordinate Extension initiatives across OSU colleges and with research and academic programs.
- Engage with USDA, state and federal agencies, and national Extension organizations to advance collaboration and funding opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with affirmative action and equal employment requirements.
- Serve on the DASNR executive team and advance integration of OSU’s teaching, research, and Extension missions.
View more information and apply for the Associate Vice President position
District Extension Director - Southwest District, University of Georgia
The District Extension Director (DED) is a member of the Extension Leadership Team in the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES), at the University of Georgia, responsible for administering the Extension program in one of four districts across the state. The Director is responsible for approximately 180 employees and oversees a budget of approximately $7 million. This position will lead the Southwest Extension District staff under the supervision of the Associate Dean for Extension and the Director of County Operations.
Applicant screening will begin immediately. Candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by November 15, 2026, to ensure review; however, screening will continue until the position is filled. Please direct questions about the position to Ms. Cheryl Poppell, Southeast District Extension Director, at 912-478-8991.
View more information and apply for the Southwest District Extension Director position
District Extension Director - Northwest District, University of Georgia
The District Extension Director (DED) is a member of the Extension Leadership Team (ELT) in the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) at the University of Georgia, responsible for administering the Extension program in the Northwest District of the state. The Northwest District Extension Director is responsible for approximately 300 employees and oversees a budget of approximately $7 million. The office is located on the UGA Griffin Campus in Griffin, Georgia. The Director will lead the Northwest Extension District staff under the supervision of the Associate Dean for Extension and the Director of County Operations.
Applicant screening will begin immediately. Candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by November 15, 2026, to ensure review; however, screening will continue until the position is filled. Please direct questions about the position to Denise Everson, Northeast District Extension Director, at 706-542-3179.
View more information and apply for the Northwest District Extension Director position
Conferences, Workshops, Trainings
84th Professional Agricultural Workers (PAWC) Conference
In-person: October 25-27, 2026, Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
Access Workers Conference Information
AI to Answers
Virtual: December 9, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT
Access Webinar Information
Excellence in Tourism Leadership Program
In-person and Virtual: January 1, 2027, Various Locations in Mississippi
Access Tourism Leadership Program Information
Rural Grocery Transition Specialist Program
Virtual: January 18, 2027
Access Grocery Specialist Program Information
National 4-H Conference
In-person: April 9-14, 2027, Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia
Access 4-H Conference Information
National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) Trainings
In-person and Virtual: Various Locations in the Southern Region
Access NCDP Training Information