Posts Tagged: 4-H

Schmitt-McQuitty appointed 4-H director, Horrillo named Nevada associate director of Cooperative Extension

Dear Colleagues,

It is with mixed emotions that I announce the departure of Shannon Horrillo from UC ANR. Shannon has accepted a new position at the University of Nevada, Reno where she will become the Associate Director of Cooperative Extension, effective August 5. Shannon was selected for the position following a national search. In her new role, Shannon will provide input for the development of needed policies and procedures, gathering and compiling data for reports, and developing/maintaining online reporting systems. Shannon will serve as the state contact for program areas and provide leadership for effective programming.

Shannon first joined UC ANR as a CE Advisor in Placer County in 2008, then moved to the State 4-H Office in 2011 as Associate Director of 4-H Program and Policy before becoming Director of the Statewide 4-H Youth Development Program in 2017. In her various roles, Shannon has consistently shown her passion for the program and more recently has been instrumental in helping expand the 4-H program across California.

It is of no surprise her talents were sought out. Please help me in wishing Shannon the very best in her new position. We are fortunate that she will remain in the Western Region and we look forward to opportunities to work with her as the Associate Director of Cooperative Extension in Nevada.

Schmitt-McQuitty appointed Director of the Statewide 4-H Youth Development Program

I am pleased to announce that Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty will return to the state 4-H office as Director of the Statewide 4-H Youth Development Program. Lynn will officially begin her new role on July 22, although she will begin transitioning before that.

Lynn brings 26 years of 4-H Youth Development experience to the role of director, with expertise in youth science literacy and leadership in Cooperative Extension, a skill set necessary to guide the 4-H Youth Development Program in meeting the needs of youth in California.

We were pleased by Lynn's enthusiasm for the role - “I'm at a point in my career where it's time to give back to the organization that has given me so many wonderful opportunities and accepting this appointment will allow me to do just that,” Lynn said. “I look forward to the new challenges ahead of me and continuing to position the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program as the premiere program for preparing young people to thrive.”

Lynn brings a wonderful energy and commitment to the program along with an understanding and appreciation of how the different elements of the program (both at the county and Davis locations) can thrive while also synergizing and working with the other statewide programs.

We look forward to Lynn's leadership of this very important program and appreciate her willingness to accept this appointment. Over the course of the next 2 to 3 years, we look to Lynn and the entire 4-H Youth Development Program to help us identify program opportunities and a course for leadership and sustained growth of the program. Given the size, importance and current activities of the program, it was felt it was in the best interests of the program to move quickly to appoint a director, rather than dealing with the uncertainty of an interim and the various delays associated with a search.

Lynn will step down from her current roles as CE Advisor, Director of UCCE in San Benito County, and Assistant Vice Provost of Cooperative Extension in order to focus her efforts on this role and the team who make the program happen. She will continue her role of Healthy Families and Communities Strategic Initiative Leader, providing a solid link between the program and the initiative and the other programs within the initiative.

Please join us in welcoming and thanking Lynn for her willingness to fill this key position.

Wendy Powers
Associate Vice President

 

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This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

ANR to seek alternate funding for 4-H shooting sports

Many of you may have seen the article that was published last Friday in the Sacramento Bee: “This Sacramento-area school district gets more NRA money than any other in the U.S.” It reported that several local school districts and the University of California system received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the National Rifle Association between 2010 and 2016. UCOP spokeswoman Dianne Klein was interviewed and explained that UC ANR runs the statewide 4-H youth development program and that the NRA grants went to 4-H shooting clubs. "Going forward, ANR will not apply for any such grants from the NRA Foundation," Klein said.

We have received many questions concerning this article and the position that UC has taken. Although I was unavailable to give an official UC ANR comment that day, we had already begun looking into this situation and were developing a similar message. The challenge for ANR is that this is a very polarizing issue and there is no position we can take that will satisfy everyone. We have stakeholders who passionately believe 4-H should not offer the Shooting Sports program at all while others feel that we are questioning their support for gun ownership if we discontinue accepting funds from the NRA. There are many perspectives on this challenging issue; ANR will do our best to serve most of our stakeholders while not yielding to societal pressures at either extreme.

The 4-H Shooting Sports program is popular among 4-H families and based on a National 4-H curriculum that provides instruction in the safe handling of firearms and archery equipment, develops self-confidence and leadership skills in 4-H participants, and instills appreciation for conservation and outdoor recreation. Youth have opportunities to compete in state and national meets and strive to qualify for Olympic teams. We have had 4-H youth in California earn college scholarships in the shooting sports.

As with all 4-H programs, the Shooting Sports program relies on adult volunteers who are trained in positive youth development and to deliver curriculum developed by academics. Furthermore:

• 4-H Shooting Sports programs are offered in most UCCE county programs, with more than 4,000 youths enrolled in California.
• ANR Risk & Safety Services has participated in the development and implementation of the 4-H Shooting Sports policies, procedures and specific safety protocols; and monitors compliance with UC ANR Firearms Policy & Procedures in an ongoing basis.
• Disciplines include archery, muzzle loading, air pistol, rifle and shotgun along with hunting and outdoor skills.
• 4-H Shooting Sports programs do not involve or endorse assault style weapons and do not use any humanoid targets or images.

As one of the nation's largest youth development programs, Cooperative Extension stands behind the integrity of our research-based programs that produce hands-on learning in science, health and well-being and civic engagement. 4-H does not endorse or oppose any legislation or political stance.

Having said that, there are times when we must demonstrate our values. UC has done that previously by divesting to end apartheid and refusing to accept funds from tobacco sales. Our decision to not pursue NRA funding for youth programs has nothing to do with the Second Amendment or opinions on best ways to ensure child safety. We are parting ways with the NRA now because they have become a polarizing, divisive force across the US and their recent treatment of young adults does not align with 4-H values on civic engagement.

UC ANR will continue to support our 4-H Shooting Sports program while also joining with the many sporting goods stores, corporations, and school systems that are rejecting ties to the NRA. We hope that you will work with us to use this as a teachable moment on public discourse and the responsibilities of major institutions to take a stand on behalf of their values. We will need your support to develop alternate funding moving forward, while also helping to promote civil dialogue on a challenging issue.

Sincerely,

Glenda Humiston
vice president

 

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This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages 

UC ANR to boost 4-H and MFP county support, better integrate YFC programs

The extended vacancy of the Youth, Families and Communities Director position (vacant 17 months) has given us time to consider program needs and how we, as a Division, can best meet those needs moving forward. After reflection, collecting recommendations from the respective Statewide Directors and gathering input from the broader ANR community, I have decided not to fill the YFC Director position. Interim Co-directors Shannon Horrillo and Katie Panarella have provided excellent leadership and afforded the Division an opportunity to invest the unused salary provision to further strengthen and support the YFC program. 

Funds designated for the YFC Director position will be reinvested into YFC programs to support growth and new opportunities. The statewide program directors identified program integration among 4-H Youth Development, Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences, Master Food Preserver and Master Gardener programs as a key priority. In support of their vision, we will hire a Program Integration Coordinator who will support efforts to integrate across programs and disciplines to maximize extension efforts and identify new multidisciplinary funding opportunities. This is consistent with the original intent of having a YFC program and a goal within the UC ANR strategic plan to better integrate and focus our efforts. The position will be released in the coming months with interviews anticipated in May.  

Subsequently, based on the directors' recommendations, we will invest in hiring a Master Food Preserver and Food Entrepreneurship Academic Coordinator. This position will bring together our existing work with home food preservation, cottage foods and innovation in agriculture to best address the food security needs of California and to pursue funding opportunities to implement programming. Additionally, we will hire a part-time 4hOnline Data System Administrator to centralize some 4hOnline administrative functions at the state level, reducing the administrative workload on 4-H county-based staff and increasing technical assistance and support.

We believe this plan will provide the needed support to position YFC for growth and to meet future needs. Shannon Horrillo will continue permanently as the Statewide 4-H Director and Katie Panarella as the Statewide Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Director and Co-director of the Master Food Preserver Program. They will continue working in partnership with Missy Gable, the Statewide Master Gardener Director and Co-director of the Master Food Preserver Program to lead these high-priority ANR statewide programs and integration in ways that leverage their assets for greater collective impact.   

Best regards,

Wendy Powers
Associate Vice President

 

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This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

New phone numbers for staff in ANR building in Davis

Everyone who moved into the new ANR building located at 2801 Second Street in Davis has a new phone number. Before calling them, please check the ANR directory for their new phone numbers. Email addresses remain unchanged.

The following units have relocated to the new building:

• 4-H Foundation
• 4-H Youth Development Program
• Academic Personnel Unit
• Business Operations Center
• Communication Services and Information Technology
• Contracts and Grants
• Development Services
• Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
• Facilities Planning and Management
• Risk & Safety Services
• Integrated Pest Management Program
• Master Gardener Program
• Program Planning and Evaluation Unit
• Program Support Unit
• Research and Extension Center Administrative Office
• Staff Personnel Unit
• Western IPM Center
• Youth, Families and Communities Administrative Office

If you haven’t been in the new building, Steve Heindl gives a virtual tour of the transition from roller skating rink to LEED-certified offices at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ht47V3GZEY&feature=youtu.be.

 

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This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.

Dogan named YFC associate director of Program and Policy - 4-H Youth Development

We are pleased to announce that Shannon Dogan has been selected as Associate Director of Program and Policy - 4-H Youth Development for the Statewide Youth, Families and Communities Program, effective May 1. As associate director, Dogan will provide statewide programmatic leadership as well as administrative and operational support to the 4-H Youth Development Program and serve as its director.

“Chosen from a group of highly qualified applicants, Shannon possesses a unique set of skills, experience and abilities needed for success in this position,” said Sharon Junge, acting 4-H director and HFC Strategic Initiative leader, who will retire March 31. “Her command of youth development research and theory and passion for putting it into practice will be a real asset to the program.”

Currently Dogan serves as 4-H Youth Development advisor for Placer and Nevada counties and has served on several statewide 4-H advisory committees. She earned her Ph.D. in human development from UC Davis, with an emphasis in social, emotional, and cognitive development, particularly during childhood and adolescence.

Dogan will be reporting to Connie Schneider, who on April 1 will become director of the Youth, Families and Communities Statewide Program.  As associate director, Dogan will serve on the YFC Senior Leadership Team, which is composed of the associate director of 4-H program policy; chair of EFNEP Leadership Council; associate director of 4-H youth development-research; associate director of nutrition-research; associate director of family & communities-research; associate director for development and director of the 4-H Foundation; and YFC management services officer.

“I am excited about the energy and perspective Shannon will bring to the YFC Senior Leadership Team,” said Schneider.  “Shannon possesses the passion for academic and programmatic excellence and a keen desire to assure that our UC ANR YFC programs are making a difference in the lives of Californians.”

In her new role, Dogan will provide administrative oversight for policy development, program guidance, outreach, educational curriculum and professional development for ANR's 4-H Youth Development Program, which operates in 57 counties and reaches over 250,000 youth and volunteers.

Executive Working Group

 

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