Extension Re-Organization

Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Email from Dr. Thomas Dobbins, Clemson Cooperative Extension Director

COVID-19 made 2020 a very trying year. Despite the challenges, Extension showed a lot of resiliency and has adopted new ways of operating and delivering programs. Because of each of you, Extension not only survived 2020; we thrived. Together, we stayed the course and achieved a lot of successes. One of the best things that has come out of 2020 is the way our Extension Leadership Team stepped up to the challenge with determination, focus, and personal commitment to lead Extension through the turmoil of 2020. Our ELT made sure they kept their eye on our “North Star” and our Guiding Principles while coordinating the ever-changing requirements around modified operations, testing requirements, and return to work plans. As a continuation of our strategic initiatives, and partially due to and despite COVID, the following exercises have been completed.

Requested Executive Leadership Team to meet twice a week

Requested Deon Legette and Blake Lanford to lead weekly meetings with District Extension Directors

Requested Dr. Matt Burns and Dr. Michelle Parisi to lead weekly meetings with Program Team Directors
Results for teams and districts:

• Provided platform for sharing creative strategies and problem-solving
• Promoted efficient and effective communication through Extension system
• Encouraged collaboration and coordination of District Extension Directors’ and Program Team Directors’ activities
• Addressed major challenges for Extension
  Example: Realignment of Staff Performance Management (EPMS) requirements for Extension Agents
  • Smoother evaluation process
  • Transparent and measurable expectations for performance
  • Decreased time commitment for process
  • Increased consistency in evaluation results across DEDs and PTDs

Formalized the innovative District Extension Director (Field Operations) structure – August 2020

Formalized the new Program Team Director (Programmatic) structure – March 2021

• Obtained support and approval from Dean Belli and Dr. Askew
• Will be Effective: July 2021
  • Program Teams will be grouped into (2) Divisions
    • Division of Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Programs
      • Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture, Livestock and Forages, Forestry and Water teams
      • Division Director: Dr. Matt Burns
      • Program Team Directors will report directly to Matt Burns
    • Division of Extension Health, Nutrition, and Youth Development Programs
      • Food Systems and Safety, 4-H, Rural Health, Food and Nutrition, and Agriculture Education
      • Division Director: Dr. Michelle Parisi
      • Program Team Directors will report directly to Michelle Parisi

Evaluated the District Extension Director structure
Results:

• Adjustment/Alignment of Extension District Map
• Effective: July 2021
• State divided into (5) Sections
• Districts overseen by each DED will be as outlined on the map below

Green = Upstate, George Dickert
Dark Blue = Pee Dee, Michael McManus
Beige = Coastal, Blake Lanford
Light Blue = Savannah Valley, Karissa Ulmer
Lavender = Piedmont/Midlands, New Hire

• Changes:
  • Midlands District removed
  • Counties will be covered by existing DED in Upstate, Pee Dee, Lower Savannah Valley, Coastal, and Piedmont
• Notes:
  • Deon Legette will continue to serve as Director of Extension Field Operations – Personnel Management
    • All DEDs will continue to report directly to Deon
  • Blake Lanford will continue to serve as District Director and Director of Extension Field Operations – Process Management

Requested Chris Heintze to serve as Interim District Extension Director for the Piedmont district

• The Piedmont District Extension Director position will be opened for an internal search
  • A notice to the system will be sent once the posting opens
  • Anyone interested may apply

Over the next few months, we will transition into this new structure and all changes will be fully in place by July 1, 2021.

The new Division Directors for Programs will be in touch with each of the Program Team Directors to meet on an individual basis and discuss these changes and answer any questions you may have. Likewise, the Field Operations Directors will reach out to the District Extension Directors to discuss the changes and answer any questions. Our strategic plan called for these divisions.

These changes will open my time to work on other Extension needs, such as fundraising and the creation of a framework for outreach and engagement, defining how activities across all colleges of the University will interface with Extension in the future.

Finally, I want to say thank you to the entire Extension team for all the hard work you have done and continue to do. This new structure will benefit our Extension system as we begin to think about what Extension will look like in the next ten, twenty, or thirty years.