Strategic initiatives, leadership changes

Sharon Junge returns to retirement in March

Sharon Junge, interim statewide 4-H Youth Development Program director and Healthy Families and Communities (HFC) Strategic Initiative leader, will end her recall from ANR retirement in March. In addition to a distinguished ANR career, Junge has provided critical leadership to ANR and spearheading organizational shifts and transitions including the newly created Youth, Families and Communities (YFC) statewide program, serving on Program Council and leading the development and organization of the HFC strategic plan and conference. After a year with EFNEP in Sacramento, Junge became the 4-H Youth Development and Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences advisor for Placer and Nevada counties in 1972. She became county director for those counties in 1985. Junge has served as interim director for the statewide 4-H Youth Development Program since 2007.

Dave Campbell named HFC initiative leader

Dave Campbell, director of the California Communities Program and panel member of the HFC Strategic Initiative, has been appointed as the new HFC initiative leader beginning January 1. As HFC initiative leader, Campbell will serve on Program Council. He will also serve as the associate director of Research in Families and Communities and a member of the leadership team in the recently announced Youth, Families and Communities (YFC) statewide program. Recruitment for the director of the YFC program is currently under way.

Constance Schneider joins YFC leadership team

Constance Schneider, nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor, has been appointed as chair of the leadership council of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), effective December 1. Schneider will provide leadership and oversight to three EFNEP advisory committees including program development and curriculum, program delivery and communications, and program evaluation and compliance. In this role, Schneider will be responsible for program implementation, outcomes, and compliance and will represent EFNEP on the new YFC leadership team.

Strategic Initiative transitions

In addition to the departure of Sharon Junge, Ian Gardner, Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases and Joe DiTomaso, Sustainable Food Systems are stepping down as initiative leaders. Gardner has accepted a position at University of Prince Edward Island as Canada Excellence Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology and will be leaving ANR in the early spring. DiTomaso has resigned as initiative leader to focus on his successful weed research and extension program. Replacements for these two initiative leaders are currently being considered by ANR senior leadership and will be announced at a later time.

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