Contact: Joe Farris
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State's vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine is taking on added duties as interim director of University Extension and Outreach.
Beginning July 1, Vance Watson will provide direct leadership for an organization that includes the MSU Extension Service, Division of Academic Outreach and Continuing Education and Office of Industrial Outreach Services.
Joe McGilberry, who had headed the extension service since 2001 and served as extension and outreach director since 2003, is retiring June 30. MSU President Charles Lee will recommend Watson's interim appointment to the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning at its July meeting.
"We have made considerable progress over the past three years in re-aligning the Mississippi State University Extension Service to accommodate changes in the needs of our constituencies and the budgetary reductions imposed by the Legislature," Lee said.
"Concurrently, the business and industry community has responded very positively to our collective efforts to better coordinate our continuing education and industrial outreach efforts throughout the university. We must continue our efforts to better meet the needs of the people of our state if we are to enjoy their trust and financial support," he added.
During the interim appointment, Watson will lead strategic planning activities focused on a comprehensive approach to teaching, research and extension throughout the university's Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Lee said. He also will work with Provost Peter Rabideau to further involve academic units of the university in continuing education or outreach functions.
"I am honored for the opportunity to serve the university in this interim role until a permanent director is selected," Watson said. "I look forward to working with the president to ensure that Extension and Outreach has a vision and goals consistent with those of the broader university."
An advisory committee will be established within the next few weeks to help find a permanent director for University Extension and Outreach, Lee said. The unit's director reports jointly to the vice president for agriculture, forestry, and veterinary medicine, and to the university's provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Watson also is director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and will continue to perform those duties along with his new extension and outreach responsibilities.