On May 7, 12 faculty members graduated from the 2009 UNH Outreach Scholars Academy. Among the graduates were two UNH Cooperative Extension specialists: Paula Gregory, Extension Specialist/Professor, 4-H Youth Development/Family Studies and Brian Krug, Assistant Extension Specialist/Professor, Floriculture and Biological Sciences, shown in the photo below with me. Paula and Brian, along with faculty from other departments and institutes on campus, were recognized at a ceremony and luncheon held in their honor for their successful completion of the academy.

The Outreach Scholars Academy is a professional development program where faculty members from a range of academic disciplines learn best practices in engaged scholarship as they participate in a series of workshops, interact with faculty experts, enjoy interdisciplinary discourse, and capitalize on coaching opportunities. They also learn about national funding perspectives from federal and foundation program officers. The academy helps faculty move from a public service perspective to an engaged scholar's perspective, knowledgeable about how to develop and sustain mutually-beneficial partnerships with external collaborators.

In celebration of the fifth year anniversary, Associate Vice President, Research and Outreach Scholarship, Julie Williams, spoke of the broad interest in UNH's Outreach Scholars Academy as a national model for professional development for faculty in all disciplines interested in engaged scholarship work.

Provost Bruce Mallory and Faculty Fellow Cameron Wake also spoke to the importance of keeping the university’s public service mission in the forefront by working with our community partners in mutually beneficial ways, and stressed the importance of faculty being recognized and rewarded for this type of work. Extension Specialist Lisa Townson serves as a coach for the Outreach Scholars Academy as well.

Paula and Brian now join 72 faculty/staff at UNH who are now Outreach Scholars, including 12 other Extension Specialists and Educators: Rick Alleva, Charlotte Cross, Charlie French, Suzann Enzian Knight, Ken LaValley, Julia Peterson, Jeff Schloss, Malcolm Smith, Sarah Smith, Catherine Violette and Mark Wiley.