Greg Davis Named Interim Director of OSU Extension

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Greg Davis has been tapped to serve as interim director of Ohio State University Extension.

Now Extension’s assistant director overseeing community development, Davis will begin his role July 1, 2015, as Director Keith Smith begins his first day of retirement following 23 years as leader. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Davis serves on the steering committee for Conversations on the Future of Extension, an effort that began in spring 2014 with discussions to identify the most challenging trends and issues Ohioans will face by 2035. It is now in the “So what?” phase, he said, determining how Extension should address those issues.

As interim director, Davis will look at how Extension approaches its work given the anticipated changes.

“It’s exciting to take the organization down the initial steps, to flesh out where we go next for Extension,” he said. “When the next director is chosen, some things will already be identified.”

As assistant director, Davis leads field-based Extension specialists and educators who are working to improve civic, environmental and economic conditions throughout Ohio. He earned his PhD in extension education from Ohio State, his MPA from Bowling Green State University and his BA from the University of Findlay.

Brian Raison, Extension director in Miami County, will serve as interim assistant director for community development on a part-time basis until Davis returns to the post. A search is currently underway for the director position.

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