AMES, Iowa – Robert Owen 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 Robert Owen has accepted the regional extension education director position for Region 16 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.”

Owen comes to the regional position having served most recently as an ISU Extension education director in Cedar and Muscatine counties. He received a bachelor’s degree in farm operation and agricultural extension education from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from St. Ambrose University.

As a regional director, Owen will work with county staff and councils, and ISU Extension staff to reach beyond county borders and plan programming in Region 16 around common priority issues. This region includes Cedar, Muscatine, Clinton and Scott 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. Owen 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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