AMES, Iowa – Allen Ricks has been selected as a regional extension education director for Iowa State University Extension, according to Jack Payne, vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach.

“We are happy to announce Allen Ricks has accepted the regional extension education director position for Region 9 and will begin his duties on Aug. 1,” said Payne. “We are excited by the enthusiasm he brings to this position as we begin to direct programming to Iowans in new ways.”

Ricks comes to the regional position having served most recently as an ISU Extension education director in Black Hawk County. He received his bachelor’s degree from Morningside College, Master of Divinity from University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and Master of Business Administration from University of Northern Iowa.

As a regional director, Ricks will work with county staff and councils, and ISU Extension staff to reach beyond county borders and plan programming in Region 9 around common priority issues. This region includes Butler, Bremer, Grundy, Black Hawk, Buchanan and Tama counties.

The regional director position was created by the ISU Extension restructuring plan as a way to facilitate an issue-based approach to delivering ISU Extension programming and resources. Ricks will work directly with the county extension council members to meet their legal obligations as an elected body. He will work with councils and extension program specialists to identify new ways to work across county borders and provide educational programming that addresses issues of most significance, and evaluate the results of multi-county and regional efforts.

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