Dr. Soyeon Shim has officially accepted the position of Director, School of
Family and Consumer Resources. Congratulations Soyeon, we applaud your
commitment to excellence and look forward to a productive future!
* On April 5, Dr. Eileen Kennedy, Deputy Under Secretary for Research,
Education and Economics in the United States Department of Agriculture
visited two urban Extension programs in the Phoenix area. Her request came
with less than a week's notice and without any stated reason for the
programs she wanted to see, i.e. underserved urban audience with a minority
emphasis. However, while driving to the first site visit, she mentioned
the up-coming Washington D.C. Summit on Nutrition, May 30 and 31 with the
President and Vice-President as keynoters and members of the House and
Senate as guests. This Summit is "by invitation only" and not open to the
public. Her description of the conference included one session on the
second day presented by "someone in the field" doing Extension work with
these audiences. The first visit was to C.J. Jorgensen School where
Rosario Fuentes, EFNEP Nutrition Educator was conducting a Family Literacy
Program parenting class. This excellent presentation, entirely in Spanish,
included charts, small and large group discussions, video vignettes with
work-page responses and general discussion. The second visit was to Lowell
Elementary School where Leslie Honaker, Program Coordinator, Senior, and
leader of School Gardening Program presented the combined efforts of
Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, Extension Faculty and staff,
community, school and parents to transform a concrete inner courtyard into
an oasis for children to meet, play and study. Eileen Kennedy was very
impressed with the coordination Ruth Jackson provided and the achievements
of these two programs. Besides being an educational effort for Dr.
Kennedy, there may be some follow-up for the May Summit. My thanks to
Shirley O'Brien, Ruth Jackson, Rosario Fuentes, and Leslie Honaker for
providing leadership.
* LaPaz/Mohave County Area Assistant/Associate Agent, Agriculture.
Applicant review begins May 15, 2000.
Reminders:
- College of Agriculture Faculty/Staff Meeting, Wednesday, April 12, 2000,
8:30 - 10 AM. in the Arizona Ballroom.
- Native American Indian Livestock Field Days, April 19-20, 2000 at the
Fort McDowell Yavapai Indian Community, Fountain Hills, Arizona. Contact
Jolie Ogg Graybill in the Maricopa County office at 602/470-8086, Ext. 345.
- Safe Food 2000, July 26-27 in Phoenix. For more information on
sponsoring and exhibiting, call 602/470-8086, Ext. 353.