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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