Extension Educator

Integrated Pest Management Extension Educator

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment, which requires all staff to contribute toward a vision for success regardless of title or position within the organization. We strive to create a positive culture, access to resources, and a sense of belonging for staff, partners, and programming participants. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is available to all audiences, creates meaningful and positive impacts for participants, and demonstrates partnership and collaboration across communities.
• We understand that a welcoming and respectful environment is built through the efforts of everyone.
• We foster an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
• We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and supportive culture.
• We foster an environment that values a range of perspectives, skills, and experiences by working to ensure access to programming for communities.
• We commit to continuous learning and engagement to better serve Michigan residents and meet the evolving needs of communities.
• We recognize that broad accessibility and collaboration are essential elements of our work and are vital to organizational and programmatic success.
• We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching, and feedback toward achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
• Together we will achieve success, and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.

POSITION SUMMARY

As part of MSU Extension (MSUE) and the Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute (AABI), this position provides local as well as statewide leadership and educational programming expertise in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in tree fruit. This position will have statewide responsibilities and will collaborate across work teams, Institutes, and stakeholder groups, working with faculty, specialists, and educators for the overall advancement of the needs of the Institute clientele.

In this position, you will identify, design, implement, and evaluate research-based educational programs that meet current and projected outreach needs related to the needs of the cherry (tart and sweet), apple, and related fruit industries. Through your leadership, you will provide support to tree fruit growers in northwest Michigan to improve the sustainability of their industries. This can include but not limited to monitoring pests and conducting Integrated Crop Management training sessions to encourage adoption of new technologies and techniques in horticulture and pest management.

You will focus on IPM efforts but also be expected to fully understand and take a holistic approach to tree fruit systems. Your work will include completing on-farm consultations, virtual and in-person meetings, and developing educational materials, conducting demonstrations, and/or participating in on-going field research.

Through collaboration in research, engagement with stakeholders and dissemination of research-based information through various methods, including in-person and multimedia programming and written communications, you will explore and implement programs that lead to public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that improve the viability of the tree fruit industries. You will also develop, produce, and deliver tree fruit integrated pest management outreach materials with messaging and content that is accessible and is consistent with the Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute messaging.

This information will be essential to help Michigan tree fruit producers compete nationally and internationally with modern growing systems that incorporate cutting edge and technologically advanced IPM strategies, so to assist farmers to grow, harvest, and market a high-quality crop.

You will be expected to be an effective communicator and ensure dissemination of research- based information through various methods, including multi-media, distance education technologies, social media, written articles, and in-person meetings, and will provide clientele information to help them improve their knowledge of pest management and horticultural strategies to improve their crop management, while…