Elevating Extension: Updates, Assurances, and the Road Ahead
April 21, 2026
Submitted by Erin Martinez and Gregg Hadley
Dear colleagues:
First, thank you for engaging with the university in so many ways in the past several weeks. Whether during the Faculty Senate Spring Open Forum, through advocacy with the extension agent professional associations, in conversations with the Extension Committee on Planning (EXCOP), or in emails, text messages, and phone calls, we see you, we hear your voices, and we appreciate your dedication to seeing extension thrive.
We know that change brings many questions, and we want you to have answers. Please know that many changes are ongoing, not fully developed, or carved in stone. There will be more to come, along with opportunities to provide input and feedback.
That being said, here’s what we know right now.
Administrative Changes
- First, a warm welcome back to Dr. Ernie Minton, who has been named the interim associate vice president for extension and engagement. As President Linton said in his letter, K-State is not slowing down in its work to serve Kansas, and Dr. Minton will continue moving us forward. We anticipate that Dr. Minton will join us at a future Friday Extension Update to say hello (again!) and share a few remarks.
- Second, we are excited to have Dr. Dan Moser as the Eldon Gideon Dean of the College of Agriculture. Dean Moser joined our last Friday Extension Update to say a few words.
Elevating Extension Continues
With Dr. Marshall Stewart's transition to the presidency of North Dakota State University, we want to be clear: Elevating Extension is not going anywhere, and neither is our commitment to you. Dr. Stewart was instrumental in crafting the vision, but this work has always belonged to all of us. The road ahead is clear, and we are continuing to implement this vision together.
Your Budget Concerns Are Being Heard
We know many of you have questions and concerns about the budget, and we want you to know those concerns are not falling on deaf ears. We have strong advocates engaged in budget discussions at the university level – including Dr. Gregg Hadley, Dean Dan Moser, Dean Brad Behnke (College of Health and Human Sciences), and budget fiscal officers Geneva Jahnke (College of Agriculture) and Karen Horton (College of Health and Human Sciences).
We will communicate changes as they become known. Still, we encourage you to follow the University Open Forums, review the budget transformation website, read K-State Today, and continue asking questions.
Publications and the Bookstore
As announced during our last Friday Extension Update, Extension Communications Solutions is being streamlined, with some positions moving to the Division of Communications and Marketing, and Extension Programs.
We have received many questions about extension publications and wanted to provide an update on the decisions made to date.
A publications manager-type position is being created and will report directly to the Associate Director for Extension Programs (currently Erin Martinez). This position is currently being crafted with input from multiple stakeholders.
Additionally, we want to be clear: the bookstore is not being eliminated, and extension publications remain a valued and essential part of how we serve Kansans. We are committed to optimizing our processes to continue delivering the trusted educational resources our constituents rely on.
Looking Ahead
We look forward to meeting with the State Finance Council to showcase the significant impact of extension and highlight our ambitious, promising plans moving forward. The precise details are still being developed, but will largely focus on greater accountability, that agriculture will remain vital to our extension mission, expanded regional specialists, stronger 4-H and community vitality programming, and improved local unit sustainability.
This is a plan that emphasizes growth and impact, not reduction, and we anticipate sharing more information with you soon.
How to Engage
Your voice is critically important as we move forward together. Here are some ways to engage:
- All extension professionals can utilize the extension professional associations, such as ESP, KS-JCEP, KAE4-HA, KACAA, KACDEP, and KEAFCS. Many associations have recently met, and KS-JCEP will meet with extension administration this summer. Not a member? Join today!
- Though these groups tend to be more closely aligned with extension faculty, all extension professionals can utilize the Extension Committee on Planning (EXCOP) and the extension caucus of Faculty Senate representatives. A complete and updated list of EXCOP and extension caucus members will be available on the website soon, and this information will be shared in the Tuesday Letter.
- Communicate with those who are here to support you – your local unit director, regional directors, department head, program leader coordinators, or any member of the Extension Administration Team.
Lastly, we would like to ask you to be intentional about staying informed. Attend Friday Extension Updates, watch the University Open Forums, read the Tuesday Letter, read K-State Today, read emails from your regional directors and leaders, attend your local/regional meetings, and even listen in to K-State Faculty Senate meetings. Listen, read, ask questions, and be an informed extension professional – this is everyone’s personal responsibility.
Let’s Do This!
Remember: Change happens. But what will never change is our commitment to our extension mission.
