- Author: Mike Hsu
If you're on a video call with Glenda Humiston when she's in her home office, you'll see the sign right above her left shoulder, prominently displayed: “4-H CLUB MEMBER LIVES HERE.”
It's the same sign that hung on her childhood home in Mancos, Colorado, in the remote southwest corner of the state. And the sign is a symbol of the influential role 4-H has played in the life and career path of Humiston, University of California's vice president for agriculture and natural resources.
“I asked if I could have it, and my dad was like, ‘Yeah, sure, I think it belongs with you' – which really annoyed my sisters, quite frankly,” she said with a laugh. “But I love having it.”
Humiston – and all four of her younger sisters – were active in 4-H during the late 1960s and 1970s. Joining the Mancos club as soon as she was able to, at roughly nine years of age, Humiston participated through high school. She even did collegiate 4-H at Colorado State University.
For National 4-H Week (Oct. 1–7), Humiston – who leads UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, the umbrella organization under which California 4-H operates – sat down for an interview about the profound impact of 4-H on her life.
You started out by showing dairy cattle and beef cattle, but you quickly broadened the scope of your 4-H experience. What else did you do in 4-H?
I did a lot of projects, not just showing the livestock – I did veterinary sciences; I did demonstration talks; I did conservation; I did woodworking. In fact, I got Reserve Grand Champion at the Colorado State Fair in woodworking one year. I made a tack box for showing livestock; I did some inlaid imagery in it. I also did a nice piece that I donated to the National 4-H Center in D.C. that, for many years, was their big artwork in the lobby that you see when you enter. [See photo at right.]
I also really enjoyed public speaking; I competed in that. Part of that was strategic – everybody turns in beef or something like that, and not very many kids were doing record books on public speaking, so I thought it gave me better odds. [Record books are kept by 4-H participants to document their progress on a project and can be submitted for competitions.]
I actually have one of my speeches about being an environmentalist when I was quite young. A little ahead of my time there. My mother said I was a very preachy child – and that was one of the times that I was!
Of the many wonderful experiences you had, what are some of your favorite aspects and memories of 4-H?
I really love the record book. I think that's one of the things about 4-H that makes it different than a lot of other youth programs. We were taught to keep a record – particularly important for showing market animals – including accounting and keeping our books: like how much did we spend on that animal and on feed and equipment. At a young age, you're learning a lot of life skills that way.
And things like the community engagement, the public speaking, these are all important skills that you just don't get unless you're out there actually doing something with it. Sitting in a classroom is not the same.
How did 4-H open your eyes to the possibility of college?
As a young person, I wasn't even thinking about college so much – I like to say that one of the reasons I even thought about going to college was 4-H, because we used to go to the Colorado State University campus in the summer for the state 4-H conference. Staying in the dorms, wandering around the campus and having the meetings there – meeting kids from all over the state – it made me feel like, “Wow, I could do this!”
I'm the first one in my family ever to go to college, and there just wasn't anybody in the family to talk about what that involved or what it looked like or anything.
That's why nowadays I think our “Juntos” program is so important. I love that we take Latino kids to a UC campus. I think the numbers I've seen are at the beginning of the week, something like 20% of them think they might go to college, and at the end of the week it's jumped to something like 80 or 90%. It makes a big difference, having the chance to see and feel.
How have you seen 4-H evolve and change, and how will it continue to adapt to the times?
I love the fact that we're doing these SPIN clubs – these special projects that are a little shorter term. I think that's a great evolution. Not every family in this day and age can sign up for the whole-year, club program. That's a lot for parents to take on being volunteers and project leaders.
Having the in-school and after-school options and six-week and nine-week options opens it up to a lot more kids. And frankly if we can get them interested in the short-term special projects, then maybe they will join the club program.
I love the fact, too, that 4-H really tries to be inclusive. 4-H has really been always very inclusive; I actually was invited to be a keynote speaker at a conference in Ohio – at The Ohio State University – about four years ago. Several states got together to talk about LGBTQ 4-H kids and youth, what were the challenges they were facing and how we were serving them. I thought it was fantastic that Ohio State and these other universities put on that event; conversations were mostly about making sure those youth felt safe participating in 4-H. It's vital that we all strive to ensure that 4-H is for everybody.
Now we would like to hear from you, 4-Hers! Tell us how 4-H has made an impact in your life, and share a favorite memory or two, by posting in the Comments box at the bottom of this story.
/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>The following message is being released from UCOP today.
University of California President Janet Napolitano will propose to the UC Board of Regents that they approve a veteran administrator with decades of experience in agriculture, natural resources, and sustainability as the next leader of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, she announced today (July 10).
Following a national search, Napolitano has tapped Glenda Humiston, Ph.D., currently the California state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, as her nominee for the vice president for the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Humiston has 25 years of experience working on agriculture, natural resources, sustainability, and economic development in rural communities. President Obama appointed her to her current position in 2009.
“Glenda Humiston is a great fit for the UC system at a time when drought has heightened the importance of sustainable agricultural practices,” said Napolitano, who launched a Global Food Initiative last year. “She is a knowledgeable, thoughtful and action-oriented leader who will expand the impact of an agriculture and natural resources division whose reach already extends across the globe.”
The UC Board of Regents will vote on the terms of the appointment at its July 21-23 meeting.
“I am thrilled to join UC's work on the ground linking world-class research with local know-how to elevate rural economies and boost agricultural production,” Humiston said. “Together we can work to provide innovative science-based solutions to farmers and deliver healthier food systems and healthier environments for all Californians.”
Humiston, who earned her doctorate in Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley, served President Clinton as deputy undersecretary for natural resources and environment at USDA. She managed the Sustainable Development Institute at the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development in South Africa, as well as the World Water Forum in Mexico City in 2006. Early in her career, she served in the Peace Corps in Tunisia.
The ANR head oversees 1,350 people working in 60 county offices, nine research and extension centers, and three administrative centers. The position became vacant upon the retirement of Barbara Allen-Diaz, the former vice president, on June 30.
View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
2011 has been an amazing year
We hired 3 new advisors
We have 10 new advisor positions getting ready for recruitment
We have 5 new specialist positions getting ready for recruitment
We formed our first multi-county partnership (MCP) — the Central Sierra Multi-county Partnership, which includes El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties
Data and analyses are in progress to inform decisions on next MCPs
Based on analyses, Ventura County and Hansen REC will form a multi-unit partnership
The Program Support Unit staffed 45 conferences and meetings in 2011, serving over 4000 people
The Business Operations Center ensured everyone got paid on time, travel was processed, bills were paid
The Academic and Staff personnel units made sure people got hired, retired, emeriti-status’d
Administrative units throughout the Division found new ways to work together to ensure the highest quality service to our academics, staff and programs
Federal reporting was timely and complete
Strategic Initiative plans were created and conferences held
Opportunities for connections happened in workgroups, Program Teams and meetings
$4.46 million dollars over 5 years were released in competitive grants
Endowment payouts continued to support the donors’ goals and support Division work
Program Council (PC) came together providing their best advice on allocation of scarce resources
We thanked Dan for his leadership over the last 3 years
I accepted the role of Vice President of ANR
The Executive Working Group (EWG) welcomed a new member – the Chief of Staff to VP Allen-Diaz
The EWG and PC continued to address budget challenges
The EWG led the first-ever Divisionwide leadership meetings
The Academic Senate initiated an effort to learn about our programs
Regular conference calls began with County Directors
Every individual academic, program rep, director and staff member continued to do his or her work with utmost professionalism and commitment. Together we are developing and delivering the best science-based information and education programs to benefit people throughout the state.
I want you to know that it is the dedication of every single one of you in this great Division of the University of California, and the work that you do to benefit the people of California, that makes me proud to come to work every day. You are incredible – and I thank you.
I wish you all a wonderful, restful and healthful holiday season full of family and friends, and I look forward to working with you in the coming year.
Barbara
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group.
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Dear Colleagues,
As I assume the responsibilities of vice president, my strongest goal is to ensure that the entire UC Agriculture and Natural Resources community thrives. With the Strategic Vision as our guide for resource allocation and decision-making, I will work to provide continuity in our programs and operations.
To maintain the momentum already established, I will chair the Executive Council, which is comprised of the deans from the three colleges and the School of Veterinary Medicine. We will continue our critical discussions on strategically allocating our existing resources, seeking new resources, and building the research and extension continuum strengthened by the unrivaled breadth of our subject-matter expertise and our professional excellence.
The Executive Working Group will continue with its existing members, with a number of responsibilities redistributed in the new leadership structure.
Bill Frost will continue to report to me, but will assume many of the duties and relationships of my previous position. Bill will chair ANR’s Program Council. He will also provide leadership to ANR statewide and county programs, county administrative operations, academic personnel, and the Research and Extension Center System. County directors and our first multi-county partnership director report to Bill as of October 1, 2011.
Kay Harrison Taber will report to me and continue her critical leadership in seeking efficiencies in business operations. Thus far we have captured significant administrative savings while improving business and operational efficiencies and releasing additional resources for programmatic support.
Bob Sams will report to me and will take on additional responsibilities of expanding our strategic communications capabilities, advancing advocacy efforts, and improving coordination with campus and UCOP external and government relations units. He will continue to oversee Communication Services and Information Technology.
Don Klingborg will report to me and continue to establish new partnership models with county governments and enhance our local program delivery through stabilized county support.
As we progress, I want to emphasize our ability to meet our commitments and advance our vision for California. To ensure this, my top priority is to fill critical academic positions identified over the past year. We will move as quickly as possible to recruit outstanding academic specialists and advisors.
Additionally, we will move promptly to announce the awards in our competitive grants process and get to work on an exciting range of projects identified by the Strategic Initiatives.
Over the 25 years that I’ve been part of ANR, I’ve been proud to belong to this amazing community with its long list of important accomplishments. Under my leadership, ANR will continue to evolve and develop strong programs and far-reaching plans that improve the lives of Californians and, indeed, the world.
Barbara Allen-Diaz
Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Dear Colleagues,
I am honored to be asked by Dan Dooley and Mark Yudof to lead ANR, which has been my academic home for the past 25 years.
Over the last three years, the Division has endured dramatic changes:
- $5.2 million permanent budget cut
- $4 million in unfunded mandates
- $4 million cut in temporary funds
- Another $3.2 million cut FY 2011-12 to our permanent budget, plus unfunded liabilities including funding for merits, our portion of the retirement system re-start, and funding represented staff agreements.
We have survived by using our Strategic Vision as a guide for making budget cuts, largely protecting academics and programs; consolidating administrative units across regions, statewide programs, and competitive grants programs; and finding new homes for units that had been part of our Division for years.
But more importantly, we are using the Strategic Vision as our blueprint to rebuild for the future.
We are moving forward based on the strength and long-term vision of our academics and staff, and our collective belief that what we do in the research, education and public service continuum is imperative to the future success of the people of California.
ANR is composed of people who have extraordinary and diverse expertise and we are dispersed all over the state. But we share a passion in our belief that we can improve the quality of life for Californians.
I feel privileged to work with incredibly dedicated, hard-working, mission-oriented people who have borne the brunt of these cuts and still come to work motivated every day because they believe in ANR, the University of California, and the programs that they support and deliver.
In the next few years, together we will find ways to make our ANR continuum stronger, bridging the differences and distances between us. We will continue to build multi-county partnerships, focusing on those county relationships that make the most sense to combine. We will continue to re-invest in our academics, protecting funds saved from retirements, and hiring new advisors and specialists. We will continue to support our programs through our consolidated business services offices and program support unit, and we will make sure that the support is relevant, timely and sufficient to ensure that our programs thrive.
I look forward to working with all of you, as we work collectively to ensure UC’s Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension system accomplishments continue to make California the envy of the world.
Sincerely,
Barbara Allen-Diaz
Associate Vice President - Academic Programs and Strategic Initiatives
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.