[CED/CD/EAT] FW: [EXT] [wedaprinonly] FW: WELD Applications Open Now
Martin, Edward C - (ecmartin)
ecmartin at arizona.edu
Wed Apr 1 15:28:49 MST 2026
Please share as appropriate.
If folks want more information, have them talk with Liz Sparks; she is the UA rep.
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Edward C. Martin, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President and Director
Cooperative Extension
Division of Agriculture, Life, & Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension
Professor/Extension Specialist - Biosystems Engineering
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Forbes Building, Room 301 | 1140 E. South Campus Drive
P.O. Box 210036 | Tucson, AZ 85721-0036
Office: 520-621-7145 | Cell: 520-709-0939
ecmartin at arizona.edu<mailto:ecmartin at arizona.edu>
We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. The University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.
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From: wedaprinonly at lists.cahnrs.wsu.edu <wedaprinonly at lists.cahnrs.wsu.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 2:25 PM
To: wedaprinonly <wedaprinonly at lists.cahnrs.wsu.edu>
Subject: [EXT] [wedaprinonly] FW: WELD Applications Open Now
External Email
________________________________
Extension Directors,
Please see the following announcement for the new Western Extension Leadership Development class.
Doreen
Doreen Hauser-Lindstrom
Executive Director,
Western Extension Directors Association
2415 E. 59th Ct.
Spokane, WA 99223
Cell: 509.435.3381
Email: doreen at wsu.edu<mailto:doreen at wsu.edu>
Subject: WELD Applications Open Now
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]
[cid:image006.png at 01DCC1E3.5B70AC40]Dear Western Extension Directors:
The Western Extension Leadership Development Program, which began with WELD I in 2001, provides a 13-month program designed to enhance participants' leadership skills and impact within Extension work. The WELD experience is ideal for early to mid-career Extension professionals whose roles may involve a broad scope, including direct programming, scholarship, and community engagement. The program requires a strong commitment and follow-through on the part of program participants. We look forward to facilitating the next cohort which will commence this September, 2026.
Specifically, we request that you advance the names of the Interns you have chosen to participate in WELD XIV by submitting them here: https://bit.ly/WELDXIV<https://lists.cahnrs.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/wedaprinonly/161586367758/ecmartin/arizona.edu/> by 5 PM Mountain Standard Time on May 15th, 2026.
The WELD Program guides and assists participants in learning and applying leadership skills in their Extension work. Specific objectives include:
* Participants will develop awareness and appreciation of their own and others' leadership and problem solving style(s) and learn to apply appropriate techniques in working with diverse individuals.
* Participants will gain a community of practice around leadership within Extension.
* Participants will develop skills and enable themselves and others to develop, articulate, and implement organization/group direction.
* Participants will develop skills to effectively implement planned change.
* Participants will apply theory and practice leadership skills within an innovative project with direct impact on their work.
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The WELD XIV Program will contain four sequential learning experiences:
* An in person Seminar will be held in San Diego, CA September 22nd- 25th (2026) to introduce WELD XIV Interns to each other and Planning Team members, and to explain the purpose for and specific components that contribute to effective Innovative Project learning experiences. The seminar may include topics such as: review, discussion, and practical application of leadership inventories; recognizing leadership styles and using them to articulate personal and organizational visions and directions; motivating others to take action and facilitating change; working together through teams; effective communication; justice, diversity, equity and inclusion in Extension; and mentoring.
* Intern will design and implement an Innovative Leadership Project that applies the leadership concepts explored throughout the program to a meaningful Extension need within their role or program area. These projects vary widely—ranging from new program or curriculum development, to evaluation and reporting improvements, to community engagement strategies, technology enhancements, or partnership and resource‑development initiatives. Projects should be appropriately scoped for the WELD timeline and aligned with organizational priorities. While no internal funding is provided, interns are encouraged to incorporate grant writing or fund generation into their project planning as a key leadership competency. Directors may view examples of past projects here: https://weda.extension.org/committees/weld/weld-projects-2/<https://lists.cahnrs.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/wedaprinonly/518169926866/ecmartin/arizona.edu/>
* Interns will conduct a leadership self-analysis and then participate in a leadership inventory assessment to illustrate their strengths and challenges in organizational leadership, and the roles they are best equipped to perform in group projects and other settings. Participants will then consider, articulate, and prepare a personal plan for developing and utilizing their leadership skills in their Innovative Projects and Extension assignments.
* WELD XIV Seminar 2 will be held in September 2027 in Oregon. During Seminar 2, WELD participants present the results of, or progress on, their innovative projects to the entire group, including the WELD XIV Planning Committee. Additional training sessions will be delivered in such topical areas as empowered leadership, essential facilitation skills, ethical decision making, conflict management, and other topics identified as useful by both WELD XIV and previous WELD participants.
Directors are encouraged to send at least 2 interns from each state. The fee of $2,500 per participant includes registration for the WELD XIV Program, pre-seminar activities, seminar leadership activities and presentations, communication, a welcome reception during Seminar I, a graduation celebration during Seminar 2, and all follow-up materials and resources. This fee does not include travel to the seminar locations, lodging, and some meals. Additionally, because of planning and budgetary considerations for the WELD XIV Program, this fee is non-refundable once an individual begins the program. However, if needed, states may substitute intern participants providing the leadership inventory instrument can be administered prior to Seminar I. Once applications are accepted by the WELD XIV Planning Committee, each state will be invoiced for the fee of $2,500 per participant.
We request your assistance in identifying your state’s WELD XIV participants and encouraging their involvement in order to promote leadership development in Extension in the Western United States. We encourage you to consider applications from all of your faculty and staff who are delivering community engaged programming, scholarship, and direct programming. These varied roles lead to a mixed involvement that enriches WELD participants’ discussions and interactions. A WELD XIV application that you can utilize to help in your states selection is attached.
The names of Extension employees you wish to advance to the WELD XIV Planning Committee need to be submitted here: https://bit.ly/WELDXIV<https://lists.cahnrs.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/wedaprinonly/161586367758/ecmartin/arizona.edu/> by 5 PM Mountain Standard Time on May 15th, 2026.
If you have any further questions about the WELD XIV Program, please feel free to contact Barbie Garnett at 303-842-6583 or by e-mail at barbie.garnett at colostate.edu<mailto:barbie.garnett at colostate.edu> , or contact your state’s representative on the WELD XIV Planning Committee.
On behalf of the WELD XIV Planning Committee, I extend our appreciation for your support of the Western Extension Leadership Development Program and we look forward to your state’s involvement in the WELD XIV Program.
Sincerely,
[cid:image003.png at 01DCC1E1.C1ACEC50] [cid:image004.jpg at 01DCC1E1.C1ACEC50]
Elizabeth Sparks, Co -Chair Barbie Garnett, Co-Chair
WELD XIV Planning Committee WELD XIV Planning Committee
Barbie Garnett
Mountain Region, Accessible Education Specialist
Office of Engagement and Extension
P: (303) 842-6583
barbie.garnett at colostate.edu<mailto:barbie.garnett at colostate.edu>
2545 Research Blvd | Fort Collins, CO 80526
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An equal access and equal opportunity University. https://col.st/ll0t3<https://lists.cahnrs.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/wedaprinonly/023353017677/ecmartin/arizona.edu/>
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