Cindy Sarkady has been selected as the new University of Wisconsin-Extension Area Extension Director for Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Ozaukee and Washington County. Sarkady started her new position on July 1, 2017 along with 22 additional new area directors. The area director position is new to Extension. In the past, there were regional directors and educators in each of the 72 counties that had a partial appointment of Department Heads. The 2015-2017 Wisconsin State biennial budget reduced University of Wisconsin System funding by $250 million. Cooperative Extension’s portion of the cut is $3.6 million per year—8.3% of its ongoing state funding. Though state funding cuts prompted this project, the nEXT Generation project is not simply about reducing budgets. It’s a chance to modernize UW-Extension and ultimately make it stronger. UW-Extension will embark on monumental changes in both organizational structure and delivery of educational priorities that will best serve our current and future audiences. The project also needs to support the division’s purpose, which is to teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them to transform lives and communities. Sarkady, has worked with Extension in Michigan and Illinois as well as holding an administrative role at a community college in Illinois. Her role as Area Extension Director will include offering leadership and oversight in program coordination, staff development, financial management and partnership development. “Change can be scary,” state’s Sarkady. “I view the restructuring of Cooperative Extension necessary to increase the effectiveness in programming and an opportunity to be strategic in offering educational program that are current, relevant and strive to meet the needs of an ever changing society, “ stresses Sarkady.
