Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) Extension Service is expanding its community and economic development initiatives to a national level with the appointment of WVSU Extension Agent Adam Hodges to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP). A Huntington native and former West Virginia State Director of Museums, Hodges is a Fayette County-based WVSU Extension agent focusing on community and agricultural resource development through a partnership with the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority. He will represent the nation’s 1890 Land-Grant Institutions on the NACDEP board. WVSU is the state’s 1890 Land-Grant Institution.
“I really believe in the Extension mission of the 1890 Universities, which focuses on impoverished and under-represented populations,” said Hodges, who is currently working on a community beautification toolkit project to launch later this year. “I hope to bring more resources and attention to that mission through this new role with NACDEP.”
“We’re proud of Adam’s commitment to representing not only WVSU but the state of West Virginia on the NACDEP Board,” said Dr. Ami Smith, associate dean and associate director of WVSU Extension Service. “This appointment will not only broaden our reach on community development issues here at home, but also allow us to learn from others on a national scale.”
NACDEP is dedicated to improving the visibility, coordination, professional status and resource base of community and economic development Extension programs and professionals. NACDEP was formed in 2003 by Extension professionals involved in some aspect of community development work, including economic development, leadership, civic engagement, government training, natural resources and tourism.
West Virginia will become the only state with two representatives on the NACDEP Board with Hodges’ election. A representative from West Virginia University, the state’s other land-grant institution, is also on the Board. Hodges’ two-year term will officially begin at NACDEP’s annual meeting this spring.
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