January 2025

Dr. Shelly Nickols-Richardson
Associate Dean and Director of Extension

Happy New Year! As we anticipate the many wonderful opportunities that the year will bring, I call your attention to two recurring events that provide us with platforms to celebrate Extension professionals across our system.  

On April 15, the Joint Council of Extension Professionals will host its annual spring conference. The event will be held at the Macon County Extension office in Decatur and will include many timely and relevant sessions for professional development, information sharing, visioning, and fundraising. Please hold this date on your calendar for whom this workshop applies and plan to attend.  

On April 23, Administrative Professionals Day will be celebrated. This is a nationally designated honorific day designed to pay tribute to all the professionals who keep the administrative operations running well for our organization. The university has not shared plans for this year’s activity yet, but I encourage you to celebrate within your offices and express gratitude for the dedication and commitment of our office support professionals.   

University of Illinois Extension best fulfills its mission when all of our professionals work collectively and collaboratively. Taking time each year to learn, upskill, and celebrate together is time well invested!    

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