January 2022 goodbye … and welcome

In January we said goodbye to the following individuals who left ISU Extension and Outreach:

  • Jamila Shing-Hon, Johnson County GAP coordinator
  • Shawn Tabke, Woodbuy County horticulture coordinator
  • Haley Mostaert, Cedar County 4-H program coordinator
  • Michelle Sillman, Linn County communications and PR director
  • Molly Gordon, Monroe County Nest child care provider
  • Kathleen Owens, Polk County office assistant
  • Cassidy Stoecker, AmeriCorps, 4-H Youth Development
  • Brian Tapp, manager programs, Farm, Food, and Enterprise Development
  • Jonni Lenzini, program assistant II, Conference Planning and Management Registration Services

We welcome the following new staff:

  • Sondra Helgerson, Dubuque County director
  • Kaitlyn Rausch, Delaware County K-12 youth education coordinator
  • Kathrine Roth, Henry County parenting
  • Thomas Viner, Johnson County office assistant
  • Jill McKeen, Floyd County nutritionist
  • Laura Anderson, AmeriCorps, 4-H Youth Development
  • Megan Carlson, education extension specialist II, 4-H Youth Development
  • Lori Mitchell, education extension specialist II, 4-H Youth Development
  • Mary Taggs, education extension specialist II, 4-H Youth Development
  • Courtney May, Region 25 director, County Services
  • Meg Sage, education extension specialist II, 4-H Youth Development
  • Amanda Karges, graphic designer I, Advancement multimedia and creative services
  • Mark Reinig, industry extension specialist III, Community and Economic Development
  • Lori Oh, budget and finance specialist II, Extension Finance

December 2021 goodbye … and welcome

In December we said goodbye to the following individuals who left ISU Extension and Outreach:

  • Judy Muniz, Black Hawk County office assistant
  • Amy Forrette, Clay County ag program coordinator
  • Ashley Throne, Winnebago County program director
  • Becky Dohlman, Cerro Gordo County outreach educator (FRW grant)
  • Chyan Koppen, Kossuth County youth coordinator
  • Shawnee Oswald, Jones County office assistant
  • Nancy Carr, Van Buren County office assistant/bookkeeper
  • Shyla Elliott, Monroe County youth coordinator
  • Toni Wiese, Harrison County youth coordinator
  • Bridgette Heisterkamp, graphic designer I, Advancement multimedia and creative services (November 30)

We welcome the following new staff:

  • Krystal Schnabel, Wright County youth coordinator
  • Shelby McDonald, Black Hawk County office assistant
  • Lori Nelson, Winnebago County program coordinator
  • Megan Kramer, Henry County cleaning
  • Kimberlee Fox, Iowa County office assistant
  • Kimberly Bode, Worth County youth coordinator
  • Bailey Dohlman, Mitchell County youth coordinator
  • Tonya Irvin, Van Buren County office assistant
  • Elizabeth Emley, Dallas County youth coordinator

July 2021 goodbye … and welcome

In July, we said goodbye to the following individuals who left ISU Extension and Outreach:

  • Misty Sanderson, Buena Vista County office assistant
  • Kayla Siefkas, Clarke County youth coordinator
  • Barbara Kistler, Monroe County office manager
  • Kaitlin Isbell, Winneshiek County youth coordinator
  • Kylie South, Guthrie County office coordinator
  • Mary Auten, Page County Growing Strong Families program assistant
  • Janet Boone, Sioux County Community and Economic development program coordinator and office assistant
  • Gracie Stallman-Perry, Monroe County youth coordinator
  • Ashley Peters, Osceola County youth coordinator
  • Malissa Tritsch, administrative assistant III, 4-H Youth Development
  • Jordyn Harrison, media production specialist I, Advancement
  • Eric Christianson, industry extension specialist II, Community and Economic Development

We welcome the following new staff:

  • Nicole McCreedy, Monroe County Nest child care provider
  • Colt Churchill, Wayne County youth coordinator
  • Lena Gripp, Buena Vista County youth coordinator
  • Amie Koffman, Monroe County office assistant
  • Emily Martins, Buchanan County youth coordinator
  • Karie McMillian-Sherwood, Wapello County program coordinator
  • Molly Gordon, Monroe County Nest child care provider
  • Shyla Elliott, Monroe County youth coordinator
  • Megan Kemp; education extension specialist I; Farm, Food, and Enterprise Development
  • Rick Woten, regional director, County Services
  • Regenea Hurte; diversity, equity, and inclusion advisor; Vice President for Extension and Outreach
  • Lindsay Henderson, industry extension specialist III, Community and Economic Development
  • Mary Lyon, event planner I, Conference Planning and Management
  • Luke Seaberg, industry extension specialist II, Community and Economic Development
  • Gentry Sorenson, industry extension specialist II, Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Alex Bartholomew, graphic designer I, Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications
  • Brianna Montross, education extension specialist I, Human Sciences
  • Nichol Kleespies, education extension specialist II, 4-H Youth Development
  • Ann Christansen, administrative assistant II, Human Sciences
  • Max Moore, media production specialist I, Advancement
  • Elizabeth Settles, program assistant II, 4-H Youth Development

February 2021 goodbye … and welcome

In February, we said goodbye to the following individuals who left ISU Extension and Outreach:

  • Valerie Horner, Chickasaw County director
  • Michele Sieren, Keokuk County youth outreach coordinator
  • Craig Leager, regional director, County Services
  • Ross Wilburn, diversity and inclusion advisor, Vice President for Extension and Outreach
  • Sally Folger, accounts receivable specialist I, Conference Planning and Management
  • Jay Staker, program specialist III, 4-H Youth Development (retirement)
  • Kristine Schaefer, Pesticide Safety Education Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources (retirement)

We welcome the following new staff:

  • Kayla Siefkas, Clark County youth coordinator
  • Carol Heffron, Appanoose County, PABS nutrition educator
  • Kelly Walker, Iowa County administrative assistant
  • Jessica Ellison, Lee County program assistant
  • Annie Fisher, Adams County office assistant
  • Carly Herum, Lyon County office assistant
  • Jenna Steffen, Chickasaw County youth outreach coordinator
  • Leslie Kallsen, Sioux County K-12 educator
  • Andy Miller, Washington County director
  • Jill Brimeyer, communications manager, Advancement
  • Celine Beggs, program specialist I, 4-H Youth Development

November 2020 goodbye … and welcome

In November, we said goodbye to the following individuals who left ISU Extension and Outreach:

  • Tenysa Handrock, Clarke County office assistant
  • Jennifer Lamos, Wapello County horticulturist and local foods
  • Kyler Waddle, Louisa County office manager
  • Jerolyne Packer, secretary III, Agriculture Program Services
  • Mary Barber, education extension specialist III, Iowa Concern, Human Sciences
  • Jen Lamos, education extension specialist II, EFNEP, Human Sciences
  • Billie Koester, manager communications, Advancement
  • Gale Francione, extension program assistant II, EFNEP, Human Sciences

We welcome the following new staff:

  • Marissa Foels, Allamakee County youth coordinator
  • Megan Janssen, Emmet County program educator/coordinator
  • Nancy Kincaid, Monroe County NEST coordinator
  • Brenda Lechner, education extension specialist I, Iowa Concern, Human Sciences
  • Demi Johnson, program specialist II, Human Sciences
  • Shannon Hoffman, program specialist II, Human Sciences
  • Olivia Hanlon, education extension specialist I, Farm, Food, and Enterprise Development

Introducing MyData

John Lawrence’s message from June 17, 2019

Back in March I told you that we were getting closer to having one shared reporting system for our entire organization. Now I am pleased to introduce MyData, the centralized system that will expand our ability to collect and report numbers and narratives about program outcomes, partnerships and client relationships. Did you know?

  • Five counties (Carroll, Franklin, Monroe, Muscatine and Polk) and some campus staff currently are piloting MyData. For the next six to 12 months, they’ll be using the system; providing feedback on best practices for managing, sharing and accessing data; and suggesting improvements. They’ll also help to identify the reports, dashboards and other features that extension professionals are likely to request. In addition, they’ll become a cohort of users who can help develop and deliver training for the rest of us.
  • After the pilot has been completed and any necessary adjustments have been made, MyData will be rolled out in phases. The schedule and the training will be tailored to the specific needs, uses and work cycles of each extension unit.
  • If all goes as planned, MyData will be tested, tried and rolled out to the entire ISU Extension and Outreach system sometime in 2021.

The goal for MyData is to meet as many county and program reporting needs as possible. ISU Extension and Outreach units have unique needs for collecting and reporting data, which requires feedback from many to make MyData work for all of us. In the coming months you’ll be hearing more about MyData from the steering committee and your unit leaders. Because MyData is really our data, please engage in these discussions and provide feedback. Let’s work together to create the best system possible. You also can check MyExtension to follow MyData’s progress.

Internal Communications: Update

During our leadership team retreat on May 31, we started prioritizing and in some cases bundling the recommendations from the Internal Communications Task Force. As a result, on June 21 I will be meeting with staff from Extension Information Technology and Advancement for a preliminary discussion about a centralized, internal communications platform for extension staff and faculty. While I think of MyExtension as a file cabinet that stores tools, content and assets, I see this platform as a newspaper. This platform could include information from leadership, and other internal communications from the program areas, support units and counties. Other items like a virtual suggestion box, calendar of events, or my Vice President for Extension and Outreach schedule also could be included. This is an initial meeting to discuss what this platform might include and understand what sort of resources – technical or otherwise – might be needed.

These technological tools will help us better communicate virtually and stay informed. The in-person, area-wide meetings that will begin in August will help us put faces and names with the digital messages and build better relationships within our organization.

Interims from and in Advancement

Effective July 3, Jacy Johnson, director of ISU Extension and Outreach Advancement, will serve as interim executive director of ISU Strategic Relations and Communications, a new unit that will replace University Relations. The new unit is part of President Wintersteen’s efforts to re-envision the university’s approach to communicating and marketing to deal with budgetary challenges, and seek greater efficiency and continuous improvement. (You might say she is applying ISU Extension and Outreach’s model of Advancement to the rest of the university.) While Jacy is serving President Wintersteen, Billie Koester, strategic relations manager in Advancement, will serve as Advancement’s interim director.

— John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Vice President for Extension and Outreach

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