Janet Smith has accepted the position of director of field operations with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach serving the southern half of Iowa. She begins the position March 15.
Smith will provide leadership to approximately half of the state’s extension regions, supplying direction to regional directors and supporting county directors and councils. During regional director vacancies, she will be responsible for leading the search to find a new regional director and may serve on an interim basis as supervisor for county staff or will supervise a county director who oversees the county staff. Smith will also oversee program delivery and initiate strategies for county extension councils to meet their legal obligations as an elected body and carry out the roles and responsibilities of an extension district.
Smith has more than 35 years of experience as an extension professional. She has served as a county 4-H educator, county director, human sciences specialist and regional director. She has served on many state committees. Smith has experience working with complex staffing issues and has collaborated with several internal and external partners on programming that enhanced and expanded extension education.
“Janet’s passion for nurturing and growing others at a grassroots level is ideal in her role as director of field operations. Her ability to coach, problem solve and innovate complex situations is a benefit for us and the organization as a whole,” said Andrea Nelson, assistant vice president with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We congratulate her on her acceptance of this position.”
Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science education from Iowa State University and a master’s in higher education, planning, policy and leadership from the University of Iowa.