Local News
Henderson focused on expanding in new post
ISU region 19 director plans to visit each regional county every week
OTTUMWA — Despite Iowa State University’s Extension restructure, Sue Henderson said her new job is going well and she is focused on expanding.
This month, Henderson started as regional extension education director for Iowa State University Extension for region 19, which includes Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Jefferson, Wayne, Appanoose, Davis and Van Buren counties.
She was the ISU Extension education director in Monroe and Wapello counties before she started the new position. Her office is in Ottumwa, though she plans to travel to each county in the region every week.
She said there was some confusion; people thought that since her office is in Ottumwa, other county offices in the region would be closing. That isn’t true.
“What that means is this is where my mail is going to go, people can leave messages for me at this office,” Henderson said. “We’re hitting the ground running over here; there’s not anything stopping or changing.”
Already, Henderson has met with county extension councils and support staffs to discuss goals and programming.
“Iowa State University is out there serving the public, just like it always has. We’re looking to expand in all areas,” Henderson said.
The extension just received grant money to hire a bilingual parent educator and expand the hours of the NEST coordinator. The bilingual educator will be an addition to NEST and will help teach about parenting and food nutrition to the Spanish-speaking people that the extension serves, Henderson said.
The NEST is a free program that helps women prepare for the arrival of their babies. The program encourages early entry into the health care system, education and awareness. There is no income requirement to get involved, though participants have to be Wapello County residents.
Big Brothers Big Sisters will be housed in the Wapello County extension office in October, and Henderson hopes this will lead to the Extension and Big Brothers Big Sisters working together on different things.
Brian Dunn, regional extension education director for Jasper, Poweshiek, Marion and Mahaska counties, will have his office is in the Mahaska County Extension Office, 212 N. I St., Oskaloosa; (641) 673-5841.
Gene Mohling, regional extension education director for Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk and Washington counties, has his office in the Johnson County Extension Office: 4265 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE, Iowa City; (319) 337-2145.
In the past, each county in Iowa has had an extension office led by a county extension education director. Wapello and Monroe counties share a director, and Appanoose and Davis counties share a director. There are 92 county education directors and five area director positions. All of those positions were eliminated, and all five area offices will be closed.
Instead of each county having a director and an office, the extension mapped out 20 regions with clusters of three-to-nine counties each. Those clusters each share a regional director.
ISU Extension’s reduction in fiscal year 2010 state appropriations was listed at $4.15 million.
Pat Shaver can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or by e-mail at p.shaver@ottumwacourier.com.
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