University of Wisconsin - Extension

Arlen Leholm recently became the new Dean and Director of Cooperative Extension at the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

As dean and director, Leholm is responsible for an organization of approximately 700 faculty and staff located in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties and on six UW System campuses. Cooperative Extension reaches more than 1 million people each year through its educational programs, and is widely regarded as the premier operation of its kind in the country.

Cooperative Extension offers educational programming in Agriculture and Natural Resources; Community, Natural Resources and Economic Development; 4-H and Youth Development; and Family Living Programs. It also includes the Geological and Natural History Survey and the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program.

— The University of Wisconsin-Extension is the front door to our university system, — explained Leholm. — We have Cooperative Extension offices in all counties of the state so we — re available to meet the educational needs of people locally. We work in partnership with the counties, and we ask people how they want us to help them. —

— We team up with communities to help them meet their local economic development and other challenges. We work to strengthen Wisconsin families, and we support youth and offer 4-H programs. We also work to strengthen our core industries, including agriculture, — Leholm said.

Leholm also coordinates Cooperative Extension programs with other UW-Extension units, which offer professional development and online degree programs, public television and public radio broadcasts, and specialized services for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Prior to his new position, Leholm served as Professor of Agricultural Economics and Extension Specialist at Michigan State University, where he established a new center, the Michigan State University Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and served as its co-director. The center bolsters economic development by creating new enterprises and jobs. No stranger to UW-Extension, Leholm also served as Cooperative Extension — s Program Leader for Community, Natural Resources and Economic Development (CNRED) from 1989 to 1992.

— Arlen brings a lot to our institution. He already knows Wisconsin, and he has experience as a top Cooperative Extension administrator, — says UW-Extension Chancellor Kevin Reilly. — He is also someone who understands the broader issues of connecting universities to the communities we serve, and the importance of leveraging knowledge to address society — s most pressing challenges. —

— In a time of economic uncertainty, UW-Extension must do its part to create and maintain healthy communities where families and businesses can thrive. Under Arlen — s capable leadership, Cooperative Extension will make important contributions to the future success of Wisconsin, — Reilly added.

Leholm served as both Director and Associate Director of Michigan — s Cooperative Extension Program, where he directed a 1,200-person statewide network and led the creation of over 30 self-directed teams. Leholm worked with local citizens who asked extension to expand programming. To cover the cost of this new programming, Leholm established 83 County Extension Councils and a 24-member state council. By working with these new funding partners, Leholm helped increase the extension budget by more than $20 million.

While at Michigan State University, Leholm worked to advance the Cooperative Extension program using high performance teams. He currently is writing a book about the subject.

Leholm has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including research and Extension positions at North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, and the University of Nebraska. Arlen holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska.

Leholm follows Carl O — Connor, who left the position in June. For more information on UW-Extension, see http://www.uwex.edu