UK Community & Leadership Development

📢 Leadership Announcement

We are excited to announce the leadership team for the Community and Leadership Development (CLD) Department!

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Tanaka, Dr. Sprayberry, Dr. Rignall, and Dr. Rossi on their continued and new leadership roles. We look forward to the expertise, vision, and dedication each of them will bring as they help lead CLD into the future.

Congratulations to our outstanding leadership team!
UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Today, we celebrate and thank Dr. Wes Harrison for his leadership and dedicated service as Chair of the Community and Leadership Development (CLD) Department.

After today, Dr. Harrison will join the faculty in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's Department of Agricultural Economics.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Harrison for his years of service and wishing him continued success in the Department of Agricultural Economics. Congratulations, Dr. Harrison, and thank you for all you've done for CLD! 🎉

UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

This summer, two of our CLD students had the opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience through internships with Kentucky Farm Bureau, and their experiences reinforced just how important internships are in preparing students for their future careers.

Ms. Briley Jerome, interned at the Owensboro Regional Claims Office, where she worked alongside claims adjusters, assisted customers at the front desk, and developed valuable customer service, communication, and empathy skills while seeing firsthand how businesses serve their communities.

Mr. Jacob Rudy, served as a Public Affairs Intern for the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, conducting policy research on agricultural issues, collaborating with state agencies, attending Kentucky legislative interim sessions, and developing skills in policy analysis, statutory research, and professional writing.

While their experiences were very different, both students shared a common takeaway: internships bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional experience. They build confidence, develop practical skills, expand professional networks, and help students discover career paths they are passionate about.

We are proud of these students for representing CLD so well and grateful to Kentucky Farm Bureau for investing in the next generation of community leaders. Congratulations on a successful summer!

UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

🎉 Congratulations to the Community Innovation Lab on the opening of its new location on the University of Kentucky campus! 🎉

The new space represents an exciting step forward in fostering collaboration, innovation, and community-engaged research.

We're especially proud that several faculty members, graduate students, and students from the Department of Community and Leadership Development (CLD) and the Agricultural Education and Advocacy (AEA) program play an integral role in the Community Innovation Lab's work. A special congratulations to Dr. Bryan Hains and Dr. Sarah Sprayberry for their leadership and dedication to building stronger communities through partnership and innovation.

The ‘front door’ to change: UK’s Community Innovation Lab unveils new home At the University of Kentucky, a unique lab is helping students find purpose beyond the classroom and giving community members a place to build meaningful partnerships.

Do you have a passion for supporting students and making a difference? 🌱📚

The Agricultural Education and Advocacy Program (AEA) within the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is seeking a Student Support team member to help empower the next generation of agricultural leaders! 💙🤍

👉 Apply today and help shape the future of agriculture! 🌾
https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/638531

We’ve Moved — and We're Excited to Welcome You!

The Department of Community and Leadership Development (CLD) and the Agricultural Education & Advocacy (AEA) Program have officially relocated to the new Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building located at:

1310 Nicholasville Road
Lexington, KY 40546

We invite you to stop by and visit us in our new home on the 3rd Floor. We look forward to welcoming students, colleagues, alumni, and friends to our new space as we continue our mission of teaching, research, extension, and outreach.

Come see us soon!

Despite a few raindrops, today’s ribbon cutting for the Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building was a fantastic celebration! State, local, and university dignitaries joined together to officially cut the ribbon and mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our campus community.

Guests enjoyed a cake designed to look just like the new building and had the opportunity to tour incredible displays from the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment departments that will soon call this space home. The innovation, collaboration, and energy on display made it easy to imagine how vibrant this building will be once it is filled with students, faculty, and staff.

What an exciting day for the future of agricultural sciences, CLD and Agricultural Education and Advocacy at the University of Kentucky!

Last Thursday evening, the Community and Leadership Development Department hosted our annual Academic Showcase, celebrating the outstanding work and achievements of our students. The evening featured CLD 497 Practicum poster presentations, academic and scholarly awards presentations, and recognition of many other student accomplishments throughout the year. Congratulations to all of our students for their hard work, dedication, and continued success!

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Lola Adedokun on receiving the Kentucky Association of State Extension Professionals Outstanding New Extension Faculty Award!

https://cld.mgcafe.uky.edu/articles/cld-faculty-member-dr-lola-adedokun-receives-outstanding-new-extension-faculty-award

Read how our CLD 320 Students are collaborating with local businesses to develop plans for growth in the community.

CLD 320 Distillery District Marketing Project | Community and Leadership Development Story and Photos provided by Dr. Brad Olson The “CLD 320 Distillery District Marketing Project” was a course-based collaboration between members of the Distillery District Business Owners Association (DDBOA) and the University of Kentucky (UK) . The project emerged from an initial connection bet...