Dear friends,
Extension is nearing the end of a year-long celebration of its 110th anniversary and turning our attention to the future.
Over the last few months, a committee of Extension faculty and staff has reviewed our 2011 organizational strategic plan and created a new version that will officially launch early next year. The new plan emphasizes scholarship, collaboration and organizational excellence within a broad framework that Extension centers and programs can adapt for their own needs. The plan, titled “A Pathway Forward,” is being put into action at a time of change across the University of Minnesota.
President Joan Gabel was inaugurated in September and has already spent significant time getting to know Extension. She met with our Farm Families of the Year in August, with 4-H’ers at the State Fair, and with faculty, staff and volunteers during her inauguration week.
One of her top priorities is integrating the many ways the University connects with greater Minnesota – including campuses, research centers and Extension – into a system that will better serve all the residents of our state.
This edition of Source tells many stories about how Extension already leads the way in serving all Minnesotans. I am confident that Extension’s new strategic direction, combined with the University’s increased focus on engagement, will enhance and improve the relationships with Minnesotans that Extension has built over the past 110 years.
Thank you for your continued interest and support, and I hope you enjoy reading Source.
Bev Durgan, Dean, University of Minnesota Extension