Hea

lthy

Foo

d Sy

stem

s

Hea

lthy

Env

iron

men

ts

Hea

lthy

Com

mun

itie

s

Hea

lthy

Cal

ifor

nian

s

Mentor a GSE! For More Information:Funding is available for CE advisors interested in mentoring GSEs. For more information, see the GSE program's website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/GGCE/

Also contact: Vanessa Murúa (vanessa.Murua@ucop.edu) or

Adrienne Marshall (adrienne.marshall@berkeley.edu)

Future PlansImproving funding model and networking

Our goal is to reach a wider range of student interests to match wide-ranging ANR interests. In addition, we are increasing financial support for CE personnel with less funding, which would help lower barriers to collaboration and include a more diverse population of CE academics.

Expanding to other campuses

The pilot includes only CNR graduate programs at Berkeley. Future expansion of the program could include many interested parties at departments in other ANR colleges. In the long term, partnership could be extended beyond ANR campuses, expanding the geographic scope of connections between students and county CE offices.

Program GoalsNon-traditional graduate student careers

Surveys of graduate students in ESPM at UC Berkeley's College of Natural Resources revealed a strong interest in non-tenure-track careers, as well as a need for more training in outreach skills.

Need for strong applicants for ANR CE jobs

ANR has been aggressively hiring for a wide range of positions. The need for qualified applicants highlighted the value of a training program for graduate students to learn CE skills.

GSE pilot program goals:

1) Increase graduate students' awareness of CE as a career path

2) Provide training in outreach and extension methods for all interested graduate students in CNR programs

3) Using a shared funding model between departments, ANR, and student mentor teams support 5-6 graduate students each year to do research and extension projects and partner with CE personnel.

Student ProjectsProjects in the first year of the program included workshops on garden insects, chaparral fuel hazards, and the role of hunting in conservation biology, as well as participatory mapping with small scale farmers, the development of cell phone tools to view tree rings, and ways to share information on native bees with farmers.

The cohort of students for the 2015-2016 academic year is working on climate change information for forest owners and farmers, ecosystem services in wetlands, invasive weed management in rangelands, and shifting fire regimes in California’s mixed conifer forests.

OutcomesTraining and networking events for students

● Annual Cooperative Extension Showcase featuring the work of CE academics and GSEs

● Semester-long graduate seminar on CE projects

● Workshops teaching CE-relevant skills

● UCOP Global Food Initiative Fellowship

Testimonials from current and former GSEs

“I just started, but already I'm learning a lot about how to present controversial land management issues so that there can be a healthy conversation about the costs and benefits. I appreciate the opportunity to get training in this sort of outreach during my studies, rather than facing these challenges for the first time, unprepared, as a working professional.” - Kristen

“I was able to make decisions and set goals based on regional impact rather than academic impact. Before the program I never really considered a career in Extension. But I found an institution brimming with wisdom, optimism and a willingness to adapt its values to changing community needs.” - Adam

“The program has given legitimacy to my outreach activities by connecting me with extension agents.” - Hillary

“Without support of the GSE pilot, my interest in extension would likely be marginalized as one of many side projects. Instead, I have been able to devote time and energy to practicing the skills needed for meaningful extension and applied research.” - Stella

“The program has given me a strong understanding of the tools and skills needed to be a successful Cooperative Extension Specialist, and has given me confidence in interviewing for a CE position in Rangeland Planning & Policy” - Luke

“Funding from this program allowed me to expand my ecosystem science training to include working with the media and building engaging community workshops.” - Kate

“Creating the GSE program allowed me to learn how to conduct needs assessments and how to structure, fund, and evaluate an evolving extension program.” - Melissa

The Graduate Students in Extension (GSE) ProgramConnecting talent between campuses and Cooperative Extension (CE)

Adam Calo calls growers in the Salinas Valley and helps weed cauliflower.

Educators explore the tiny hairs on a beetle and on a leaf with

miniature microscopes and their smartphones at the

Plumas County session of the Forestry Institute for Teachers,

June 2015. Photo: Stella Cousins

Kevi Mace-Hill trains high school students in nutrition and garden education information that they will be teaching to middle school students.

Kate Wilkin explains the richness of fire as a natural process and management tool to Amy Quinton from NPR’s Capital Public Radio while Curtis Haynes films the interview. Photo by Stacey Sargent Frederick

Adrienne Marshall presents information about climate change impacts on the Sierra Nevada to nature educators.

Melissa V Eitzel, Luke Macaulay, Kate Wilkin, John Battles

Acknowledgment This poster template was created by the Medical Illustration Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia and edited for our use.

--Planning and Steering Committees--

John Battles, Melissa V Eitzel, Christy Getz, Maggi Kelly, Faith Kearns, Susie Kocher, Rachael

Long, Luke Macaulay, Max Moritz, Vanessa Murúa, Keith Nathaniel, Rick Standiford, Rachel Surls,

Ann Thrupp, Kate Wilkin--GSEs--

Adam Calo, Stella Cousins, Kripa Jagannathan, Luke Macaulay, Kevi Mace, Adrienne Marshall, Hillary Sardiñas, Nathan Van Schmidt, Matthew Shapero, Kristen Shive, Kate Wilkin

--Mentors--Barbara Allen-Diaz, Reg Barrett, John Battles, Theresa Becchetti,

Steven Beissinger, Rob Bennaton, Virginia

Bolshakova,Van Butsic, Ryan DeSantis, David Doll, Julie A Finzel, Larry Forero, Christy Getz, Gregory Giusti, Lynn Huntsinger, Roger Ingram,

Jeremy James, Andrew Jones, Shimat Villanassery Joseph,

Maggi Kelly, Amber Kerr, Susie Kocher, Claire Kremen, Michael

De Lasaux, Rachael Long, Fadzayi Mashiri, Nicholas Mills, Randall Mutters, Glenn Nader, Kevin O'Hara, Tapan Pathak,

Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Samuel Sandoval Solis, Jeffery W

Stackhouse, Rick Standiford, Scott Stephens, Peter Stine,

Margaret Torn, Yana Valachovic

Slide 1