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News and Notes: January 23, 2026

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Leadership Notes

  1. Note from David Civittolo

    I hope this finds you all staying safe and warm—especially in your work and travels—during the intense winter weather. 

  2. Zies Named Interim FCS Assistant Director

    Susan Zies, assistant professor and Extension educator in Wood County, will begin serving as interim assistant director for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) on Feb. 2, 2026. She brings deep passion, steadfast dedication, and extensive experience in building community partnerships to this

  3. Villard Moves into Volunteer Development Role

    Judy Villard, associate professor and 4-H youth development educator in Richland County, moved into a new role effective Jan. 2, 2026. Judy is now a statewide volunteer development associate professor.

College Connections

  1. AEDE Economic Outlook and Policy Webinars

    AEDE will host its first Economic Outlook and Policy Webinar for Spring 2026 on Jan. 26 (noon). Dr. Yao Wang will lead a discussion on understanding housing policy and will provide information on housing-related tools, examples, and impacts to consider.

  2. Department of Entomology Seminar Series – Spring 2026

    Join guest speakers for weekly virtual seminars that focus on various entomology-related topics.

  3. Fundamentals of Planters Workshop – Feb. 17

    CFAES is organizing a Fundamentals of Planters Workshop on Feb. 17 (9 a.m. - noon) at the Western Agricultural Research Station in South Charleston.

Programming Perspectives

  1. Winter Beef Webinar Series

    Extension’s Winter Beef Webinar Series will continue Feb. 5. This virtual series of educational webinars will be held twice a month through March. 19.

  2. 3D Print Workshop — Feb. 19

    There will be a 3D Print Workshop on Feb. 19 (9 a.m. - noon) at the Champaign County office of OSU Extension. Come learn how to use 3D printing to create program aids to help engage and educate audiences.

  3. Ohio River Valley Woodland and Wildlife Landowner Workshop – March 21

    Natural resources professionals from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky are organizing the Ohio River Valley Woodland and Wildlife Landowner Workshop on March 21 in Butler County.

Award Opportunities/Reminders

  1. Ohio JCEP Professional Development Scholarships and Programming Grants Due Feb. 1

    The first round of Ohio JCEP Professional Development Scholarships and Programming Grants for 2026 is now open. Applications are due Feb. 1.   

  2. Outreach and Engagement Grant Opportunities

    Ohio State’s Office of Outreach and Engagement is now accepting applications for two grant opportunities—Engaged Scholarship Seed Grants and Graduate Student Engaged Scholar Seed Grants.  

Operations/Business of Extension

  1. Inclement Weather and Office Closure Procedures

    With winter weather here, the following are important reminders about office closure procedures.

  2. Extension's Social Media Footprint in 2025

    In 2025, Extension’s state-level social media accounts had more than 107,000 engagements with followers and other users. This includes 2.3M views on 268 total posts.

Professional Development Opportunities

  1. ABCs of AI for Extension Webinar Series—Starts Feb. 2

    Artificial intelligence (AI) will be the focus of a new webinar series that explores its impact on information‑seeking and Extension program delivery. Beginning Feb. 2 (12 p.m.), and continuing every other Monday, the ABCs of AI for Extension webinars will offer practical insights for Extension

  2. Farm Succession Coordinator Training – April 20-22

    Extension and the Ohio Farm Transition Network will host the International Farm Transition Network’s (IFTN) Certified Farm Succession Coordinator Training April 20-22 in Wooster.

Health and Wellness

  1. Mindset Matters in Healing

    Mindset plays an important role in the body’s healing process. While advancements in technology and medicine continue to expand treatment possibilities, we often overlook key components of healing: the patient’s mindset and mental health.

  2. Importance of Abdominal Muscle Strength

    Abdominal muscle strength is the topic of a recent Ohio State Health & Discovery article that outlines several ways to improve abdominal core health.