Category: Cooperative Extension
Michelle Rodgers: Elevating Cooperative Extension through vision and coalition work
June 28, 2023 Written by Dante LaPenta | Photos by UD staff
After more than four decades in Cooperative Extension at three land-grant universities, Michelle Rodgers, associate dean and director of University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, is calling it a career … sort of. For most people, the word retirement equates to idle time with their feet up. But, as anyone who knows Rodgers can attest, she has other ideas!
“Michelle's commitment to the college and its mission is inspiring and a model for others. We pride ourselves on a commitment to community outreach and engaged research. That is Michelle,” praised Calvin Keeler, interim dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “She provided truly transformative leadership in connecting the college to not only the agricultural community of Delaware, but to many of the citizens of the state and region. As a critical member of the college’s senior leadership, I thank Michelle for her guidance, advice and vision.”
Rodgers will provide leadership on an 18-month project for the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching & Engagement (EXCITE), a national initiative that she spearheaded while at UD. The undertaking is in lockstep with her passion for boots on the ground community work.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always managed to balance administrative work and keeping a hand in Extension’s programing,” explained Rodgers. “We are doing Cooperative Extension work as a national system and documenting that impact at the local and national level. That is very fulfilling for me.”
Through this U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) interagency agreement, Cooperative Extension plays to one of its key strengths — addressing issues, in this case health disparities, in rural and other underserved communities.
“Michelle’s efforts to champion healthcare issues in Cooperative Extension were revolutionary, and not only garnered national attention, but showed everyone that the extension model was relevant far beyond the boundaries of agriculture and natural resources,” said Mark Rieger, former dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and current provost of Florida Gulf Coast University.”
This swansong is perhaps the perfect example of Rodgers’ lifelong commitment to educational programming.
Before her career was even off the ground, Rodgers already had her sights set on education. Having grown up in an agricultural community and taken part in 4-H herself, she understood Cooperative Extension’s mission — bringing knowledge to the people. The ability to work directly with the community drew her in.
“Extension was an exciting environment to be in. You make a difference in people’s lives,” recalled Rodgers. “As I was weighing my career options, the idea of ‘extending the university’ fit perfectly with my passion to serve and care for others.”
Her first taste of extension work was as a summer assistant, now known as Summer Scholars, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Throughout the three summers as an undergraduate student, Rodgers worked on nutrition, food preservation and textiles projects. The groundwork was clearly laid for her to become an extension agent.
“That was the job of my dreams,” pronounced Rodgers. “That summer opportunity positioned me for what I wanted to do after graduation. I still see this same effect when current students spend the summer with Cooperative Extension. They are better prepared to work alongside their community.”
After a decade in educational roles with Penn State, Rodgers moved to the administrative side of the house, but never surrendered her enthusiasm for educational programming. Still early in her career, Penn State offered her the chance to fill in as an interim regional director. The role clearly suited her. Rodgers would go on to higher level administrative roles at three land-grant universities.
After 27 years at Penn State, Rodgers was recruited to Michigan State as their associate director. After initial reluctance to move, her husband Steven successfully convinced her to take the opportunity.
“It turned out to be one of my best career experiences. I had to start over from scratch and learn a new system,” recalled Rodgers. “It exposed me to the breadth of Cooperative Extension and what each state’s system brought to the table. I saw the value that Extension could bring to the nation if we were all connected.”
After a successful term at Michigan State, UD hired Rodgers as its associate dean and director of Cooperative Extension. Through a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Well Connected Communities grant, Rodgers led by example, connecting extension professionals across state lines to address health disparities issues in what would become a preview of the EXCITE initiative. Later, in the throes of the pandemic, Rodgers and her collaborators built a coalition, including 72 of the 111 land-grant universities. They reached 15 million Americans about immunization education.
“Having this level of impact through this type of initiative is what will sustain Extension in the future,” asserted Rodgers. “Our college and University leaders have been very supportive to allow me to work on these national initiatives.”
No matter the land-grant university, how Cooperative Extension has shared university knowledge changed greatly over the course of Rodgers’ career. As her colleagues quickly will attest, Rodgers spurns stagnation — always pressing to find ways to expand Extension’s impact.
“Michelle has been truly innovative. I miss her tenacity and values-driven leadership style, and will always regard her as one of my closest colleagues,” added Rieger. “Delaware was fortunate to have her during her best years.”
Rodgers’ wide impact was evident at a recent retirement celebration in Kent County. In addition to CANR and Extension colleagues, many folks across the UD landscape and the state made the trek to honor her. During an address to attendees, Maria Pippidis, now retired after her own successful extension career, spoke directly to this legacy.
“Michelle, you have dedicated your life to Extension — as an agent and administrator,” saluted Pippidis. “You have been a leader, visionary and committed to making Extension better for your personnel and for clientele.”
Rodgers is always quick to shift the spotlight of success to her colleagues, often noting extension agents innate inner drive to help others.
“The work that our extension agents are doing in Delaware is equivalent to what’s being done anywhere in the country,” said Rodgers. “Extension does a great job of assessing where the needs are, bringing the relevant research-based information and going into these communities. And our college’s academic units understand the value of the application of our research and teaching in the Delaware community.”
Rodgers notes that the UD team was already doing impactful work long before she arrived in the First State. One of her first directives was for agents to better evaluate their work to document the difference they were making across Delaware. These summaries became impact statements, which Rodgers shared far and wide to tout UD’s accomplishments.
After Michelle’s departure, Jennifer Volk, who has served as UD Extension’s associate director and environmental quality specialist, takes over as interim director. Rodgers and Volk developed into a powerhouse tag team, taking on statewide and national projects.
Volk is especially appreciative of Rodgers’ mentorship throughout her own extension career and leading up to this planned transition.
“Michelle has a strong personality, but a big heart. It’s very clear what she cares about. She cares about people — our extension staff and people throughout Delaware,” said Volk. “I’ve always appreciated how Michelle purposely elevates Cooperative Extension in front of other people – whether they are UD or external leaders. That increases our visibility in the UD community, throughout Delaware and nationally.”
Like Rodgers, Volk strives to include everyone in her decision-making process and help Extension to see the big picture in how the staff can serve Delaware.
“As an organization, UD Cooperative Extension has invested in leadership and mentoring,” highlighted Rodgers. “We’ve positioned ourselves well for the next generation of leaders that can step right into new roles.”