Esmeralda Cruz
Meet Our Team
Esmeralda Cruz
Esmeralda Cruz, M.S., holds a master's degree in Youth Development and Agricultural Education from Purdue University. She served as the Health and Human Sciences Educator for Purdue Extension in Clinton County for nine years, where she established and led several transformative initiatives alongside community partners including Community Raising and Starting Heroes, Grassroots Leadership Development, Emergency Fund for Immigrant Families, Bi-Literacy Program, Padres Estrellas, Education after High School, and the Raíces Festival.
In 2024, she transitioned to her current role as Community Engagement Specialist with Purdue Extension. In this capacity, she leads culturally responsive engagement initiatives and collaborates with state and local partners to address the unique challenges and opportunities of underserved communities. Esmeralda serves on various community and state boards such as the Center for Rural and Migrant Health, Center for Rural Research, Education, and Outreach, Clinton County Community Foundation, and IU Rural Health Subcommittee.
Recent News
As we near Autumn, many homeowners will consider planting a new tree in their landscape. After...
Purdue Extension Knox County 2026 Newsletter, featuring news in all of our program areas. Learn...
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Extension’s EDGE in Ag program recognized three...
Purdue Extension in the Future, an article about Purdue Extension
Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the key tomato diseases and abiotic (non-living)...
![4-H volunteer Kristi Kretzmeier, left, stands with her husband, two daughters, two 4-H youth, and a show sheep. One youth, Kyle Albertson, sits in a motorized wheelchair, and his sheep is held in place[MCM1.1] by a specialized wheelchair attachment.](https://extension.purdue.edu/news/2026/08/_media/4-h-volunteers_mobile-square.jpg)
Summer days are for 4-H in the Kretzmeier household. If you’re looking for Kristi...