AMES, Iowa – Gene Mohling and Bryan Whaley have been hired to fill two new regional field operations positions with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Beginning May 18, Mohling will serve as director of regional field operations for southern Iowa and Whaley will serve as director of regional field operations for northern Iowa.
Mohling and Whaley will oversee extension program delivery that meets the educational needs of their respective half of the state. Each will supervise regional directors in half the state, as well as assist county extension councils in meeting their legal obligations as an elected body and carrying out the roles and responsibilities of an extension district.
“Gene and Bryan demonstrate advanced knowledge of council development, staff development and county fiscal management, and bring years of experience to the new positions from their past leadership in county and regional roles. The new positions will increase the level of consistency of regional oversight and enhance training opportunities for county and regional staff,” said Andrea Nelson, assistant vice president for county services.
Mohling has 25 years of experience with ISU Extension and Outreach, most recently serving as regional director for Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk and Washington counties, and previously as county director for several counties.
Since 2012, Whaley has served as regional director for Emmet, Palo Alto, Kossuth, Hancock and Winnebago counties. Previously he served as a regional youth program specialist and Safety and Education in Shooting Sports state coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach. He also has experience as a middle school math and science teacher and elementary school teacher.
The new regional field operations positions were created as part of a restructuring in ISU Extension and Outreach to better serve Iowa’s 99 counties, according to Nelson. Since 2009, ISU Extension and Outreach has operated with 20 regions, varying in size from three to eight counties, each served by a regional director.
“With the new structure that takes effect statewide July 1, ISU Extension will have 27 regions, each served by a regional director. Three regions are one-county regions – Polk, Story and Dallas. The remaining 24 regions each include three to five counties,” Nelson explained.
Regional directors from the previous configuration have been assigned to the new regions and will shift into their new positions on July 1. Searches have been conducted or are in progress to fill the remaining vacancies, Nelson said.
[PHOTO] Gene Mohling
[PHOTO] Bryan Whaley
