Educational Sessions Schedule

April 22, 2025

Somerset Room

Lightning Talks

Talk 1:

Bridge the Gap: Moving Master Gardener Volunteers from Science-Based Curriculum to Hands-On Involvement

Stephanie Harrington, ISU Extension and Outreach

Talk 2:

Curated Literature as Continuing Education for Master Gardener Volunteers

Alicia Herzog, Iowa State University

Talk 3:

Online Asynchronous Master Gardener Training

Dr. William Lester, University of Florida Extension

Lincoln Room

Understanding the Structure, Function, and Role of Extension Advisory Councils: Increasing their Usefulness and Impact

  • Workshop
  • All

Ken Culp III, University of Kentucky

Massachusetts Room

Best Practices for Recruiting, Training, and Engaging Public Health Student Volunteers in Cooperative Extension Programs

  • Workshop
  • All

Andrew Crocker, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Rhode Island Room

Walking Alongside A Volunteer’s Unique Journey

  • Workshop
  • All

Christine Heverly, Michigan State University

Cumberland Room

Volunteer Development with the “4-H Volunteer Educators’ Guide”

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Gemma Miner, University of California

Oxford Room

Assessing 4-H Extension Agent and Volunteer Understanding and Integration of Positive Youth Development and Program Implementation Science Principles

  • Research
  • 4-H

Breanna Wade Univ of Arkansas

Connecticut Room

Exploring Personal Value among 4-H Volunteers: Toward Enhancing Motivation and Retention in Extension Volunteers

  • Research
  • 4-H

Steven Krauss, University of Missouri 

Kennebec Room

Nothing scheduled for this room at this time.

Somerset Room

From Toxicity to Transformation: Creating Healthy Volunteer Ecosystems

  • Workshop
  • All

Martin J. Kowling, Keynote Speaker

Lincoln Room

Utilizing Technology to Overcome Language Barriers for Extension Programming

  • Workshop
  • All (4-H)

Rebekah Greene, University of Georgia

Massachusetts Room

Volunteer Management Essentials: A Micro-credential for Beginners

  • Workshop
  • All

Jen Lobley, University of Maine

Rhode Island Room

Navigating Stakeholder Shifting Focus Friction to Support LGBTQIA+ Participants

  • Workshop
  • All (4-H)

Joe Rand, University of Minnesota

Cumberland Room

From Mic to Mission: Creating Engaging Volunteer Podcasts

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Kathleen Bodhe, Purdue University

Oxford Room

Aligning Findings from the 4-H Youth Retention Study with VRKC Lesson Plans

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Sarah Hensley, University of Florida

Connecticut Room

Equity in Volunteer Recognition: A Case Study from the UC Master Gardener Program

  • Research
  • Master Gardener

Marisa Coyne, University of California 

Kennebec Room

Nothing scheduled for this room at this time.

Somerset Room

From Numbers to Narrative: Measuring, Maximising and Celebrating Volunteer Impact

  • Workshop
  • All

Martin J. Kowling, Keynote Speaker

Lincoln Room

Enhancing Community Impact through Integrated Volunteer Programs: A Focus on Collaboration, Engagement, and Sustainability

  • Workshop
  • Master Gardener

Maggie O’Neill, University of California

Massachusetts Room

Marketing Your Program on Any Budget

  • Workshop
  • All (4-H)

Prudence Caskey, University of Florida

Rhode Island Room

Embracing Conflict as a Learning Tool for Quality Programming

  • Workshop
  • All (4-H)

Dan Teuteberg, Washington State University

Cumberland Room

Bringing the 4-H Thriving Model to Life in Your Community

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Aimee Elkins, University of Wisconsin Madison

Oxford Room

Co-producing Effective Learning Resources with Extension Volunteers: Impacts and Lessons Learned from Involving Volunteers in the Publication Process

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Joshua Farella, University of Arizona

Connecticut Room

Extension Health Ambassadors: A Community-Based Volunteer Health Education Training Program for Improving Health in Rural Communities

  • Research
  • All (Health)

Jessica Vincent, University of Arkansas

Kennebec Room

Nothing scheduled for this room at this time.

Hosted Poster Session: 5:00–5:30 p.m.

April 23, 2025

Somerset Room

Lightning Talks

Talk 1:

AEMTV 2.0: Continuing Education from the Achieving the Extension Mission Course

Jenae Hansen-Gross, South Dakota State University Extension

Talk 2:

Teaching Volunteer Competencies through Online Lunch-and-Learn Trainings

Jo Williams, Ohio State University Extension

Lincoln Room

Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Volunteers to Localize Your eLearning Experiences

  • Workshop
  • All (4-H)

Scott Mautte, University of California

Massachusetts Room

Value-Added Volunteering: The Impact of Master Food Preserver Training and Volunteering on Workforce Skills

  • Workshop
  • Master Food Preserver

Kathy Savoie, University of Maine

Rhode Island Room

Community Health Coalitions: Volunteers as an Integrated System for Health and Wellness

  • Workshop
  • All (4-H)

Jenna Daniel, University of Georgia

Cumberland Room

Twenty-Year Celebration – Culture and Content of Annual Volunteer Training

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Carrie Ann Olson, University of Minnesota

Oxford Room

Living Together Peacefully at Camp: A curriculum for camping success

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Rebekah Greene, University of Georgia

Connecticut Room

Understanding Volunteer Motivations: Insights from the Volunteer Functions Inventory in Extension Get Fit

  • Research
  • All (Health)

Heather Wingo, University of Arkansas 

Kennebec Room

Nothing scheduled for this room at this time.

Somerset Room

Lightning Talks

Talk 1:

The Ripple Effect: How Small Actions Lead to Big Impacts in Volunteer Programs

Kristie Popa, University of Florida IFAS

Talk 2:

We Want You: Recruiting Military-Connected Youth and Adults as Volunteers

Jenny Jordan, Navy CYP/NC State University

Lincoln Room

“Trees for Tomorrow Start Today” – A Research to Implementation Project

  • Workshop
  • Master Gardener

Janet Hartin, University of California

Massachusetts Room

Creating Your Own Volunteer Management System – What We Learned at Illinois Extension

  • Workshop
  • All

Ramona Girtman, University of Illinois

Rhode Island Room

Integrating Cultural Access and Belonging in Volunteer Screening Practices

  • Workshop
  • All

Kristy Oosterhouse, Michigan State University

Cumberland Room

Leading Volunteers Through Community Transitions

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Kelly Dziak, Rutgers University

Oxford Room

Engaging Youth: Where they are – As they are. PYD through a trauma-informed lens

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Sarah Hensley, University of Florida

Connecticut Room

From Friction to Function: Strategies to Resolve Conflict

  • Research
  • Master Gardener

Jayla Fry, Texas A&M

Andrew Crocker, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Kennebec Room

Building a Leadership Academy to Equip Volunteer Leaders

  • Workshop
  • All
  • 4-H

Sally Mineer, FCS Extension Specialist for Professional Development, University of Kentucky

Kelly May, Senior Extension Associate for Family Finance & Resource Mgt., University of Kentucky

Somerset Room

Lightning Talks

Talk 1:

Volunteer Training Needs: A Nominal Group Technique Approach

Dallas Meringolo, University of Florida

Talk 2:

Engaging Community Partners and Stakeholders to Enthusiastically Guide Your Organization

Barbara Barga, University of Maryland, College Park

Lincoln Room

Polar Bear Tactics in Volunteer Management – Connecting polar opposite personalities without the bear fights

  • Workshop
  • 4-H, Master Gardener

Sarah Rautio, Michigan State University

Massachusetts Room

Wyoming Walks

  • Workshop
  • All

Joddee Jacobson, University of Wyoming

Rhode Island Room

Teens as Teachers and Change Agents: Young volunteers address plastics issues and environmental sustainability

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Anne Stevenson, University of Minnesota

Cumberland Room

Creating Powerful Partnerships

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Jenny Jordan, North Carolina State University

Oxford Room

Amplifying the Voices of Volunteers: The Personal, Organizational, and Public Value of Volunteering

  • Research
  • 4-H

Rachelle Vettern,  North Dakota State University

Connecticut Room

Enhancing Communication Strategies for Extension Volunteers Across Program Areas: Basing Communication Method on Intended Engagement

Research

  • 4-H, Master Gardener

Keri Hobbs, University of Georgia

Kennebec Room

Nothing scheduled for this room at this time.

Somerset Room

Lightning Talks

Talk 1:

Climate Forward Trees

Mimi Enright, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County

Talk 2:

Economic and Environmental Benefits of Ask the Master Gardener Plant Clinics in Sumter County, FL

Lisa Sanderson, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

Talk 3:

Training efforts to expand outreach capacity in gardening

David Lowenstein, Michigan State University

Lincoln Room

Updating Volunteer Materials to Improve Program Outcomes and Enhancing Accessibility

  • Workshop
  • 4-H, Master Gardener

Ryan Tesar, University of Nevada State University

Massachusetts Room

Interrupting Bias: Speaking Up When Speaking Up Is Hard

  • Workshop
  • All (4-H)

Alisha Targonski, University of Maine

Rhode Island Room

Mastering conflict management: Empowering staff to manage conflict among volunteers

  • Workshop
  • All (4-H)

Abby Wagner, University of Minnesota

Cumberland Room

Fostering Volunteer Communities of Practice

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Heather Kent, University of Florida

Oxford Room

Evaluation with a Twist: Strategies to Assess Program Effectiveness, Gather Feedback, and Report Impact

  • Workshop
  • 4-H

Harriett Edwards, North Carolina State University

Connecticut Room

Exploring Job Embeddedness Among Florida 4-H Extension Agents

  • Research
  • 4-H

Kristie Popa, University of Florida

Kennebec Room

Nothing scheduled for this room at this time.