Houston, Texas was the host site for the 2017 Winter meeting of the 1890 Association of Extension Administrators (AEA). Mark Latimore, Immediate Past Chair, passed the gavel to Carolyn Williams, Associate Administrator for the Cooperative Extension Program at PVAMU to begin her two-year term as Chair of AEA.  The AEA Chair is also responsible for hosting the Winter meeting that convened in Houston, January 23-26th at the Houston Marriot North Hotel.

The Extension leadership at each institution provides statewide oversight of federal funds ensuring that Extension outreach programs are implemented, evaluated and reported. A state Plan of Work is submitted to USDA-NIFA each April outlining specific goals and objectives for outreach education.  Once the plan is approved, funding is sent to the University to fulfill the goals and objectives to reach underserved and underrepresented audiences.  Educational workshops are delivered in the following themes:

  • Agricultural Sustainability
  • Nutrition, Diet, and Health
  • Economic prosperity and well being
  • Community and Family Sustainability
  • Environment and Natural Resources

Extension Administrators, Associate Administrators, Deans/Directors of Land-grant Programs from the 19 Land-grant institutions were in attendance.  Some of the agenda items addressed:  National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Updates, 1890 Capacity Funding, Facilities Program and Capacity Building Grants Update, 2018 Farm Bill Process, ECOP Executive Committee Report and Civil Discourse Initiative, AEA Professional Development Academy, Board on Human Sciences Healthy Food Systems and Healthy People Initiative, SNAP-Ed Plan and the National 4-H Council Private Resource Mobilization Initiative.

2017 AEA Winter MeetingThe four-day meeting included a tour of the PVAMU campus on Wednesday, January 25th.  Presentations by CAHS faculty and staff highlighted programs, initiatives and successful projects benefitting students and citizens of Texas.  The group enjoyed a tour of the new athletic complex and the Agriculture/Business Multipurpose Building led by Quinn Jenkins, Director of Facilities Maintenance.

James Palmer

 

James Palmer, Ph.D.
Interim Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs
jmpalmer@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-2214

 

 

 

Dr. Carolyn J. Williams

 

Carolyn Williams, Ph.D.
Associate Administrator, Cooperative Extension Program
cjwilliams@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5122