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Regional directors named to statewide Cooperative Extension and Outreach posts   Eight regional directors of Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach have been appointed to provide programmatic and administrative leadership for Cooperative Extension and to coordinate University outreach programs.   Theodore R. Alter, associate vice president for outreach, director of Cooperative Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences, made the appointments to strengthen the University’s ability to serve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Cooperative Extension, with offices in each of the state’s 67 counties, transfers research-based information to citizens through educational programs designed to meet locally identified needs. In addition to enhancing Cooperative Extension programs, the regional directors will serve to facilitate all outreach efforts at the University. Working closely with academic colleges and all campuses, the regional directors will ensure a new level of program coordination, collaboration and responsiveness for all University outreach activities.   The basic framework of Cooperative Extension’s regional structure was expanded from four to eight geographic regions as a result of President Graham Spanier’s vision to enhance Penn State outreach activities, which he outlined in 1996 during Ag Progress Days.
Bernatowicz Southwest Region Bixby Susquehanna Region Davis Southeast Region Depp North Central Region McDavid Northeast Region Ott South Central Region Rodgers Capital Region Rynd Northwest Region	The directors and their regions are: Brenda Bernatowicz, Southwest Region, which includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Bernatowicz, who previously served as Erie County extension director and acting assistant to the West Region director, is based at Penn State Shenango. Shirley Bixby, Susquehanna Region, which includes Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties. Bixby, who previously served as interim regional director for the Northeast Region and Columbia County extension director, is based at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Frederick Davis, Southeast Region, which includes Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and Schuylkill counties. Davis, who previously served as a multicounty family resource/small business management extension agent in Southeast Pennsylvania, is based at Penn State Berks–Lehigh Valley College. Mary Jo Depp, North Central Region, which includes Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties. Depp, who previously served as assistant to the regional director for the Central Region, is based at University Park. G. Michael McDavid, Northeast Region, which includes Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. McDavid, who previously served as continuing and distance education area representative at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, is based at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Harold Ott, South Central Region, which includes Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry and Somerset counties. Ott, who previously served as regional director of the Central Region, is based at University Park. Michelle S. Rodgers, Capital Region, which includes Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Rodgers, who previously served as assistant to the regional directors of the Capital and Southeast regions, is based at Penn State Harrisburg. David Rynd, Northwest Region, which includes Crawford, Clarion, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties. Rynd, who previously served as interim regional director for the Western Region, is based at Penn State Shenango.