SDSU Community Vitality Bits and Pieces By Kenneth Sherin and Paul Thares SDSU Extension Kenneth Sherin, Ph.D., has been chosen as the Program Director for the SDSU Extension Community Vitality program. Sherin has served as a Community Vitality Field Specialist in the Mitchell Regional Extension Center with SDSU Extension since June 2012. A North Carolina native, Sherin completed his doctoral studies in Rural Sociology and Organization Development at the University of Missouri in 2012. Sherin will continue to work from the Mitchell Regional Extension Center and he will travel to Brookings regularly for meetings and other administrative duties. Sherin is the second Program Director of the SDSU Extension Community Vitality team. David Olson, Ph.D.,
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became Program Director after the SDSU Extension reorganization in 2011 and built a strong team of community resource professionals. Olson served as Program Director until he lost his battle with cancer in February 2016. Sherin said, “I want to build on Dr. Olson’s commitment to be the best resource for South Dakota communities who are seeking to stay or become vibrant, healthy communities.” Program Name Change The SDSU Extension Community Vitality program is the new name of the former Community Development program. The new name better reflects the goals and purposes of the program, as well as, the greater mission of South Dakota’s land grant university. SDSU Extension’s purpose is “to foster a learning community environment that empowers citizens to advocate for sustainable change that will strengthen agriculture, natural resources, youth, families, and the communities of South Dakota.” Sherin states, “South Dakota communities are worthy of our earnest effort to make available the best evidence-based, vetted, and relevant community and economic development resources.”
SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPALITIES
