University of Wisconsin - Extension

MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Extension announced today that Dean and Director of Cooperative Extension Carl O¿Connor has accepted a new assignment as the executive director of the North Central Extension Association. He will begin his new assignment July 1, 2003.

The North Central Extension Association represents the land-grant Cooperative Extension programs in 12 North Central states, reaching from North Dakota to Missouri and east to Ohio. O¿Connor also will work in a half-time liaison position with the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

Through these two positions, O¿Connor will focus on coordinating regional educational partnerships associated with a variety of federal and state government agencies and private industry. This work will benefit the whole North Central region, including Wisconsin.

"My decision to accept this new role was not an easy one," O'Connor said. "I consider it a great honor to work with the high-quality faculty and staff we have within Cooperative Extension. I will leave knowing that the future of Cooperative Extension is in good hands. I will work diligently in my new role to maintain a healthy future for all of Extension."

The dean and director of Cooperative Extension is responsible for approximately 700 faculty and staff located in each of Wisconsin¿s 72 counties and on six UW System campuses. Cooperative Extension offers educational programming in four areas: agriculture and natural resources; 4-H; family living programs; and community, natural resources and economic development.

UW-Extension Chancellor Kevin Reilly noted, "Carl has been an innovative and committed leader of Cooperative Extension. His work has positioned UW-Extension well to meet the needs of Wisconsin in the 21st century. His activity at the national level in his new assignment will help us attract new funds to the North Central region, funds we will use to keep Wisconsin at the forefront of extension education. We wish him all the best."

O'Connor became dean and director of Cooperative Extension in September 1996. He came to UW-Extension in 1992 as associate dean and director. O'Connor said he is proud of the accomplishments that have occurred within Cooperative Extension over the past 10 years. Some accomplishments he highlighted include:

• Offering multicultural programming, such as a program for Hispanic Dairy workers, and strengthening UW-Extension¿s partnership with Native American communities.
• Creating the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
• Creating the Basin Educator Network, a statewide education program comprised of 15 water quality specialists, also in cooperation with the DNR.
• Growing the Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program contract by 500 percent.
• Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 4-H program.

Reilly said that UW-Extension is now organizing the search for O'Connor's replacement in hopes that a new dean and director will be available by July 1.

Cooperative Extension is a division of the University of Wisconsin-Extension, which brings university knowledge and resources to the places where people live and work. Other educational programs are offered through 26 UW campus Continuing Education offices, 13 Small Business Development Centers, and the statewide networks of Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television.

For more information, see the UW-Extension Web site at http://www.uwex.edu .