Dear Extension Family,
As we continue through a busy spring season, I want to thank each of you for the dedication and professionalism you bring to Clemson Cooperative Extension every day. Across our system, your efforts continue to strengthen communities through impactful programming, partnerships, and service.
This month, we celebrate several important accomplishments and updates across Extension. Congratulations to Denise Attaway on receiving the Rowland P. Alston, Sr., ’42 Award for Excellence in Public Relations, a well-deserved recognition of her outstanding work and contributions. Congratulations to the EELI program graduates on completing the program and demonstrating a strong commitment to leadership and professional growth.
Several important operational and strategic initiatives are also underway across the Extension system. Conversations continue with University leadership regarding budget reductions and the importance of understanding the reasoning and long-term planning behind these decisions. In addition, preparations remain underway for the implementation of the new Workday system, with Extension-specific trainings being coordinated statewide under Renee’s leadership to help ensure a smooth transition for our employees.
As we look toward the future of Clemson Extension, I encourage everyone to participate in the upcoming strategic planning feedback sessions led by Mr. Lanford. Over the next five weeks, these discussions and surveys will focus on key themes including communication, programming, workforce, impact, and investment. Your input is critical as we work together to shape Extension’s future priorities and direction.
Thank you again for the outstanding work happening across all program areas. Your commitment to serving South Carolina continues to make a meaningful difference. Please remember to join my monthly Coffee Chat held on the first Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. for Extension updates, announcements, and an opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion.
Rural Health at Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP)!
The Clemson Extension Rural Health team recently presented at the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP)conference, showcasing innovative work addressing food access challenges. Michelle Altman and Weatherly Thomas delivered a presentation titled “Advocacy in Action: Clemson Extension’s Food Pantry Giving Guide – Response to the 2025 SNAP Disruption,” highlighting a timely, community-centered resource developed to support food pantries and partners during disruptions to SNAP benefits. Their work emphasizes practical guidance for equitable food distribution, strengthens local response efforts, and demonstrates Extension’s ability to adapt quickly to emerging needs while advocating for vulnerable populations.
Guidance on AI Use in Extension Work
Conversations about the use and potential of AI tools in Extension work have intensified recently. As we explore ways to responsibly incorporate these technologies, I encourage you to review the Extension Foundation’s AI safety checklist and related guidance, which is regularly updated: https://connect.extension.org/blog/before-you-share-it-an-ai-safety-checklist-for-extension
If you have questions about using AI tools in your work, please consult Clemson’s AI resources and tools page for guidance and institutional policies: https://www.clemson.edu/ai/tools/
Thank you for staying informed and thoughtful as we consider how AI can support our mission.
State Fair:
The 2026 South Carolina State Fair is set to run from Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 25. Please plan to represent Extension at our booth in the Ellison Building on one of these days. Any questions or comments, please reach out to Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu
Salesforce:
Please take a moment to update your Title on your User Profile in Salesforce. To do so, hover over your photo icon along the top toolbar and click. This will open up to your User Profile. Please update your Title to reflect your County and Program team, ex) Anderson – Agronomic Crops Agent. This helps easily identify users when navigating in Salesforce.
Salesforce will now automatically send a reminder email when one of your Program Events has concluded.
What to expect:
When an event ends:
- You’ll receive a reminder email.
- A task will be created to remind you to complete required reporting fields.
- A banner will appear at the top of the record reminding you to complete required reporting fields.
The reminder is simply to ensure the following fields are completed for reporting purposes:
- Event Status
- Extension Project
- Program County
- Hours of Instruction
The banner will remain visible until you manually dismiss it.
New Employees
Please help me welcome the newest members of our Extension family:
- Jessica Galat: EFNEP Nutrition Educator; serving Kershaw County
- Tamika Thomas: EFNEP Nutrition Educator; serving Florence County
Job Openings
We have new openings to fill with talent. The following positions with their job ID numbers are currently posted on the Clemson Careers website. http://www.clemson.edu/careers
- AMPSC Extension Educator, Various Counties, Job ID 110430
- AMPSC Forestry Extension Associate, Various Counties, Job ID 110384
- HGIC Online Programming and Marketing Associate, Clemson, Job ID 109968
- Nutrition Educator, Spartanburg, Job ID 110021
- Livestock and Forages Agent, Saluda, Job ID 110092
IN CLOSING …
Thank you again for your continued dedication to Clemson Cooperative Extension and the communities we serve across South Carolina. The work highlighted throughout this newsletter reflects the strength of our people, the value of our partnerships, and the meaningful impact Extension continues to make each day. As we move through this busy season, I encourage you to continue supporting one another, sharing your successes, and staying engaged in the important work ahead.
I appreciate all that you do to advance our mission and represent Clemson Extension with professionalism and purpose.
As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension.
Upcoming Events and Reminders
- May 20-22, 2026: SC Association of County Agricultural Agents (SCACAA) & SC Association of Extension 4-H Agents (SCAE4-HA) Joint Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference in Lexington, SC.
- Please share your latest accomplishments, awards, publications and other newsworthy updates with Christi Leard ccampb3@clemson.edu to get in the Director’s Newsletter!
