Dear Colleagues,
Reflecting on my career, the experiences that have brought me the greatest joy have invariably involved teams working together toward meaningful outcomes. Having been a member of the Association of Northeast Extension Directors (NEED, for short) for several years, I have seen clearly how our members collaborate to advance important goals. Whether we are influencing policy, implementing technology at our respective institutions, encouraging greater collaboration among our organizations, or pursuing other shared priorities, our work contributes to more effective Extension programming throughout the region and beyond.
One of the greatest benefits of NEED membership is the opportunity to learn from one another. I especially value the time we devote to sharing challenges and hearing how colleagues have addressed similar situations. I intend to prioritize these exchanges as our agendas are developed. They not only provide practical insights but also strengthen relationships across our membership.
Of course, we cannot advance our shared mission in isolation. Extension was established to bring research-based information to those who can benefit from it, and without a strong research foundation, our ability to serve is greatly diminished. We are fortunate to collaborate with our agInnovation colleagues to fulfill the land-grant mission. Together, we identify important questions, seek answers, and communicate what we learn to the people who need it.
I am honored and grateful to serve as NEED chair this year. As a short-term steward of the organization, I hope to deepen our internal relationships, strengthen the support we provide one another, and help us work collectively to address major challenges—including state and federal budget pressures, changing demographics, rapidly evolving technology, and the many other forces shaping our work. I also hope to strengthen key external relationships, such as with agInnovation or others including NEASDA, the Extension Foundation, directors from other regions, etc.
We are stronger together.
I welcome your ideas and input. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeff Hyde
Associate Dean and Director of Penn State Extension
Biography
Jeffrey Hyde, PhD
Associate Dean and Director of Penn State Extension
Jeffrey Hyde provides leadership for the development and delivery of high-quality, relevant and impactful extension educational programs, products and services through a variety of formats, with an eye toward expanding reach and access to science-based education across Pennsylvania and beyond.
Hyde oversees and guides assistant directors of programs and statewide program teams in the planning, prioritizing, budgeting, development, delivery and evaluation of programs, products and services.
Previous to his current position, Hyde served as associate head of the college’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education and as assistant to the director for special program initiatives for Penn State Extension. He began working for the college in 2000, joining the faculty as an assistant professor of agricultural economics, and becoming a full professor in 2012.
From 2008 to 2015, he led Penn State Extension’s statewide agricultural entrepreneurship and economic and community development programs. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Frostburg State University in Maryland and master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue University.