New VP for Extension and Agriculture Named at USU

Utah State University President Stan Albrecht has named Noelle Cockett as vice president for Extension and Agriculture.

 

Cockett, who has been interim provost since February, steps into this newly created position that now combines administrative duties of university Extension and the College of Agriculture. In this new capacity, she will also serve as dean of the College of Agriculture, a post she occupied prior to her appointment as interim provost. The provost position has since been filled by Raymond Coward, who assumed his new responsibilities Jan. 2.

 

In this new structure, distance and continuing education, which was under university Extension, will now fall under the jurisdiction of the provost’s office.

This major administrative restructuring comes on the heels of the resignation of Jack Payne, USU vice president, dean and director for University Extension. Payne accepted a position at Iowa State University to become the new vice provost for Extension and Outreach beginning Jan. 15.

“The opportunity has presented itself for administrative realignment that makes good sense and one that will save the university a senior level appointment during this budget reduction period,” Albrecht said. “The roots of Cooperative Extension and the College of Agriculture run deep at Utah State and throughout Utah. A natural connection also exists between continuing education and the office of the provost.”

The new vice president position, which becomes effective Jan. 15, encompasses the three legs of USU’s traditional land-grant mission: agriculture education, research through the Utah Agriculture Experiment Station, and outreach provided by Cooperative Extension, Albrecht said.

“Dr. Cockett is uniquely qualified as a scientist, administrator and teacher,” he said. “This change allows us to keep her in the president’s cabinet where her voice will continue to be heard and Extension will continue to be represented.”

Three senior level administrators will report directly to Cockett: associate dean of the College of Agriculture, the director of the Ag Experiment Station and the associate vice president for Cooperative Extension.

“These three essential entities, now combined, comprise the heart of our great land-grant university,” Cockett said. “I am deeply honored to be able to continue my close association with President Albrecht in this new and challenging capacity.”

Cockett said she plans early on to tour all 29 county Extension sites and numerous Experiment Station sites around the state.

 

Contact: Noelle Cockett, 435-797-2215