UF/IFAS leadership has selected Heather Kent to lead the Northwest Extension District as interim director. Kent, based at the North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna, most recently served as a regional specialized Florida 4-H agent for the district.
“After 26 years with UF/IFAS Extension, this appointment is both an honor and an opportunity to continue my lifelong commitment to strengthening Extension programming for communities throughout the Panhandle,” Kent said.
She succeeds Julie Dilliard, who stepped down as interim director to return to the role of director of UF/IFAS Extension Washington County.
Throughout Kent’s career with UF/IFAS, she has developed programming and secured grants that support faculty, staff, volunteers and youth.
Kent’s peers have recognized and applauded her efforts. In 2015, she received the Florida Association of 4-H Extension Agents’ Outstanding Specialist of the Year Award. In 2021, the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals honored her with its Peer Professional Development Award.
For the past 18 months, Kent has applied what she learned while obtaining her doctorate in instructional systems and learning technology to spearhead a strategic planning effort for Florida 4-H. Her goal is to help the organization become more efficient and productive.
“Dr. Kent is a proven leader in Extension,” said Andra Johnson, dean for UF/IFAS Extension and director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. “She’s been a driving force behind the growth and evolution of Florida 4-H education and volunteer management. I look forward to working with her as interim director to further Extension’s education mission in the Florida Panhandle.”
In the coming months, Kent plans to focus on improving communication between the district and UF’s campus. She also aims to strengthen support for each of the 16 counties within her purview, ensuring each Extension office is well-equipped to deliver high-quality educational opportunities for residents.
“My vision for leadership in the Northwest District is to build on its strong legacy by empowering faculty, staff, volunteers, families and youth to reach their full potential, enhancing the impact and sustainability of Extension programming across the state,” Kent said.
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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