At Virginia State University (VSU), Extension is fortunate to have leaders who bring experience, heart and dedication to their jobs. To celebrate Women's History Month, we sat down with three women in leadership positions to learn more about their journey, who and what inspire them, and how they're rising to meet modern challenges as they advance the mission of Extension at VSU.
Reflecting on Extension’s Legacy of Impact in Virginia
Today, Cooperative Extension programs are woven into the fabric of Virginia communities. Through 4-H youth development, agricultural education, family and consumer sciences and community resource development, Extension connects research-based knowledge and solutions with individuals, families and communities across the Commonwealth. Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) at Virginia State University (VSU) continues to practice and expand a long tradition of outreach. Today, this work reflects more than a century of vision, persistence and leadership born from a need to dedicate resources to solve Virginians’ real-world problems.
In the early 1800s, there were limited opportunities to learn and study agriculture, despite a growing need for workers with this practical knowledge. Educational opportunities that did exist were not open to all. The story of Extension in Virginia began with the first Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862, a piece of legislation that sold federal land to states for the clear purpose of establishing institutions focused on teaching agriculture and mechanical arts as well as classical and scientific studies. The goal was revolutionary for its time: to educate the working class and dedicate scholarly resources to solving pressing issues. In 1872, the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, received funds from the Morrill Land Grant Act for its founding and would later become home to agricultural outreach and demonstration work.
