10/28/2009

eXtension Honors OSU Extension Specialist

Writer:

Lynette Spicer
lynette.spicer@extension.org

Source:

Sharon Seiling, OSU Extension, Family Resource Management
sseiling@hec.ohio-state.edu
614-292-4224

Dan Cotton, eXtension director
dan.cotton@eXtension.org

Terry Meisenbach, eXtension communications and marketing leader
terry.meisenbach@eXtension.org

ST. LOUIS — An Ohio State University Extension family resource management specialist was honored Oct. 23 by eXtension (pronounced E-extension) as it announced its first national awards recognizing outstanding partners, as well as individual and team achievement.

Sharon Seiling, who is also an associate professor of consumer sciences and a researcher with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, was honored for her work with eXtension's Financial Security for All community of practice. The group focuses its research-based information on financial stability, financial literacy for children through young adults and information on achieving financial security for those close to retirement. As the financial crisis hit the United States, the land-grant university experts in personal finance found their work on eXtension in high demand.

Other members of the group receiving awards included Erik Anderson (University of Idaho), Janet Bechman (Purdue University), Judy Branch (University of Vermont, retired), Michael Gutter (University of Florida), Linda Kirk-Fox (Washington State University), Elizabeth Kiss (formerly Purdue University), Jacque Miller (Colorado State University), Megan O'Neil-Haight (University of Maryland), Barbara O'Neill (Rutgers University), Nancy Porter (Clemson University), Jane Schuchardt (National Institute of Food and Agriculture) and Patricia Swanson (Iowa State University). In addition, Debra Pankow, associate professor and Extension family economics specialist at North Dakota State University, was honored for her individual contributions and leadership. eXtension is a national online resource of Cooperative Extension that provides science-based unbiased information to the public. Experts from more than 70 land-grant universities, as well as government agencies contribute information. University experts work in their areas of expertise, organized as communities of practice.

Also recognized at eXtension's awards program were professionals working with eXtension’s HorseQuest community of practice, which has created information for the entire equine industry from new horse owners to professionals working to support the equine industry.

eXtension started in 2005 with eight content areas formed as "communities of practice." HorseQuest and Financial Security for All were among the eight pioneer communities and were recognized for innovation and leadership in their respective areas of expertise.

"We are thrilled to be able to recognize these outstanding individuals and groups," said Dan Cotton, eXtension director. "While eXtension represents the 'best of the best' in land-grant university content and informal education, the people we honor today represent the 'best of the best' working to achieve these high standards."

Awards were presented on the final day of eXtension’s first national conference Oct. 20-23 in St. Louis.

eXtension currently has 25 resource areas on the Web at http://www.extension.org. The site is customized with links to local Cooperative Extension sites, including Ohio State University Extension. Land-grant universities were founded on the ideals that higher education should be accessible to all, that universities should teach liberal and practical subjects and share knowledge with people throughout their states.

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