Dunn named regional director of extension
Brian Dunn has been named the Iowa State University regional extension education director for a four county area that includes Poweshiek County. Jack Payne, vice president for ISU
Extension and Outreach, made the announcement in late June. “We are happy to announce (that) Brian Dunn has accepted the regional extension education director position for Region 14, and will begin his duties on Aug. 1,” said Payne.
“We are excited by the enthusiasm he brings to this position as we begin to direct programming to Iowans in new ways.”
Region 14 includes Poweshiek, Jasper, Marion and Mahaska counties.
Dunn comes to the regional position having served most recently as an ISU Extension education director in Mahaska County, a position he’s held since March 2007. He is a native of Osceola, and a 1990 graduate of Clarke Community High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in health promotion from the University of Northern Iowa in 1998, and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Iowa State University in 2004.
Dunn said he is honored as well as being both excited and terrified of his new position and the changes ahead.
“It is exciting to be part of developing this new system and making it work,” he said. “It’s terrifying because there is considerably more responsibility with this position. We are moving into uncharted territory.”
The regional director position was created earlier this year by the ISU Extension restructuring plan as a way to facilitate an issue-based approach to delivering ISU Extension programming and resources. Dunn will work directly with the county extension council members to meet their legal obligations as an elected body. He will also work with councils and extension program specialists to identify new ways to work across county borders and provide educational programming that addresses issues of most significance, and evaluate the results of multi-county and regional efforts.
“Extension is losing many remarkable county education extension directors who have been doing incredible work for a number of years,” Dunn said. “I feel it is my role to keep the work they’ve done moving forward, and not tarnish their legacy across the state.”
The site of the regional office has yet to be selected. “We hope to have an announcement in the next week or so,” said Dunn.
Catherine Lents, Poweshiek County Extension education director, will remain on staff until Aug. 31 to help Dunn as he transitions into his new role.
“The main thing people need to know is the (Poweshiek County) office will still be open and we will be continuing programming and 4-H activities,” said Lents.
“We are still going to be day-to-day.”
“I truly hope that our clients and constituents will not notice dramatic changes in the services provided
in any of our counties,” added Dunn. “My plan is for this restructure to affect only how we provide services, not the services themselves.”
The Poweshiek County Extension office is located at 114 S. Third St. in Montezuma. The office may be reached at 641-623-5188.
UPDATED July 8, 2009 9:04 AM