Our fearless leader

I grew up in Detroit, Michigan and gained an appreciation for agriculture and the environment hunting with my father and brothers on our relative’s farms in the thumb region of Michigan.  I attended Michigan State University and received my degree in agricultural engineering in 1984.  It was during this time that I learned about Extension and then I had the good fortune of being hired as the State’s Irrigation Extension Specialist by the Department of Ag. & Biosystems Engineering at the University of Arizona in 1992.  In 2012, I was asked to serve as acting Director at the Maricopa County Extension office and in 2013, I interviewed to become the permanent director.  It was the people in the office, and their dedication to their programs and the people of Maricopa County that convinced me to stay.  I do my best to support all of the great women and men that work here and deliver quality educational programs.  We work together in this office as a team, a group of people with the common purpose to help improve people’s lives.  It’s really a great place to work!