Four Extension Faculty/Specialists joined 12 other UNH faculty members inducted into the 2007 Outreach Scholars Academy Friday, January 26. In its third year, the Academy is a faculty development program, designed to enhance faculty success in outreach scholarship within the disciplines.

Pingguo He, Research Associate Professor/Specialist, Fisheries, Ken LaValley, Assistant Professor/Specialist Commercial Fisheries Technology Transfer, Catherine Violette, Extension Professor/Specialist, Food and Nutrition, and Mark Wiley, Extension Specialist, Marine Science Education will represent UNH Cooperative Extension this year in the Academy.

The Academy began with an induction ceremony and luncheon attended by 50 associate vice presidents, deans, department chairs/administrators and other faculty members. Provost Bruce Mallory provided opening remarks to attendees about how our work with community partners supports the land-, sea-, and space-grant mission of UNH. Dr. Lorilee Sandmann of the University of Georgia spoke of the national movement by universities to promote engagement, citing UNH as a leader among universities in training and supporting faculty in outreach scholarship.

The Academy will meet several times throughout the semester with a national expert, coaches and Outreach Scholars Academy alumni with the goal to identify, mentor and work with faculty from across the institution interested in outreach scholarship.