Education

Purdue Extension Professionals Recognized at Conference

  • Steve McKinley
  • December 5, 2025

A number of Purdue Extension Professionals were recognized at the annual Purdue Extension Professional Development Conference (PDC) on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Awards were presented by the Indiana Extension Professionals Association (IEPA), Purdue University Cooperative Extension Specialists Association (PUCESA), Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP), and the Purdue Extension Director’s Office. We wish to extend our congratulations to each of these individuals and teams on their accomplishments and on the impact they are helping Purdue Extension to make across the State of Indiana!

IEEA Awards

Program Area Individual Awards

Recognize the outstanding work of Purdue Extension field-based Professionals and the impact their programs have achieved.

Agriculture and Natural Resources – “New Rural Road Safety: Collaborating to Meet the Need”, Andrea Hatfield, Hamilton County

4-H Youth Development – “Vigo County Mini 4-H Day Camp”, Emily Brown, Vigo County

Health and Human Sciences – “JCAP Arts-Based Wellness”, Caroline Everidge, Allen County

Program Area Career Award Winner

Agriculture and Natural Resources – Tom Springstun, Scott County

Program Area Team Awards

Recognize and encourage teamwork among Extension Professionals within the same program.

Agriculture and Natural Resources – “Blossoming Prosperity: Empowering Indiana Cut Flower Growers for Sustainable Growth” Team members include Emily Kresca, Kosciusko County; Jayde Grisham, Marion County; Emily Evers, St. Joseph County; and Reba Wicker, Steuben County (formerly).

Community Development – “Community Leadership Program Day at the Indiana Statehouse.” Team members include Cindy Barber, Daviess County; Lori Bouslog, Vermillion County; Nick Held, Spencer County; Tonya Short, Knox County; Dena Held, Martin County; Tanya Hall, Regional CD Educator; Tamara Ogle, Regional CD Educator; and Kris Parker, Regional CD Educator.

4-H Youth Development – “Indiana 4-H Teen Leadership Weekend.” Emily Ade, Warren County; Clint Deck, Monroe County; Brooke Goble, Pike County; Sthele Greybar, Elkhart County; Jennifer Haynes, Lake County; Natalie Korniak Smith, Clay County; Wes Richardson, Daviess County; Megan Skiba, State 4-H Office

Health and Human Sciences – “Anti-Poverty Initiatives.” Team members include Brittney Schori, Whitley County; and Zoe Robinson, Randolph County.

Other IEEA Awards

Bob Amick Award - Recognizes a 4-H Youth Development Educator with less than 10 years of service – Heather Dougherty, Johnson County

CES Team – “Purdue Extension: A Team Approach to Artificial Intelligence”. Team members include Gina Avila, Porter County; Naomi Bechtold, HHS Specialist (retired); Sarah Brackney, Dubois County; Betsy Coffing, Tippecanoe County (formerly); Sara Dzimianski, Perry County; Cheyenne Geideman, Allen County; Mandy Gray, Hancock County; Amanda Graupner, Tippecanoe County; Rachel Haselby, State 4-H Office; Eric Hillis, Tipton County; Eric Imboden, Extension Director’s Office; Brock Turner, Tippecanoe County; Daniel Walker, Regional CD Educator; Kanza Zafar, Greene County (formerly).

Diversity – “Purdue Extension’s Healthy Relationships Initiative”, Caroline Everidge, Allen County

Tenure awards

Members of IEEA recognized for their tenure level milestones, starting at 5 years, and at each subsequent 5-year interval, included the following.

Those with 5-year tenure include:

  • Emily Ade – Warren County
  • Chelsea Brewer – Dubois County
  • Clint Deck – Monroe County
  • Laura Dodds – Marion County
  • Brooke Goble – Pike County
  • Jessi Huston – Wabash County
  • Rebecca Koetz – Lake County
  • Emily Kresca – Kosciusko County
  • Lais McCartney – Hancock County
  • Sonya Mitchell – Washington County
  • Kyli Penrod – Blackford County
  • JP Pietrowski – Huntington County
  • Ashley Piland – Marion County
  • Jessica Riffle – Fulton County
  • Kayla Wright – Marion County

10-year tenure staff members include:

  • Jon Charlesworth – Benton and Warren Counties
  • Angela Sorg – DeKalb County
  • Carmen Fortney – Jasper County
  • Kelsey Meyers – Henry County
  • Abby Morgan – Montgomery County
  • Dee Nicley – Tippecanoe County
  • Gail Peitzmeier – Crawford County
  • Meagan Salomon – Vanderburgh County
  • Luis Santiago – Daviess County
  • Tonya Short – Knox County
  • Josh Winrotte – Northwest Area Directo

Two Extension Professionals have served Purdue Extension for 20 years:

  • Kris Parker, Regional Community Development Educator
  • Atina Rozhon, Southeast Area Director

One Extension Professional has served Purdue Extension for 30 years:

  • Amy Nierman, Central Area Director

One Educator has served Purdue Extension for 35 years:

  • Karen Richey, Marshall County

One Educator has served Purdue Extension for 40 years:

  • Lori Bouslog – Vermillion County

Outgoing IEPA Section Presidents Recognition

The leadership of a program area section within IEPA is a four-year commitment – secretary, vice-president, president, and past-president. Those who have completed their term as president and are transitioning into a past-president role include:

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources Section – Sarah Hanson, Food Systems Coordinator
  • Community Development Section – Cindy Barber, Daviess County
  • 4-H Youth Development Section – Christie Jacobs, Vigo County
  • Health and Human Sciences Section – Meagan Salomon, Vanderburgh County
  • Purdue University Cooperative Extension Specialists Association Section – Doug Richmond, Department of Entomology

Outgoing IEPA President Recognition

The leadership of the umbrella professional association for Purdue Extension is a four-year commitment – secretary, vice-president, president, and past-president. The 2025 IEPA President was Elysia Rodgers, ANR Educator and CED, DeKalb County.