Rural Development and Community Leadership are Foci of New Department in College of Agriculture

RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ARE FOCI
OF NEW DEPARTMENT
IN COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

"We're going to be even more involved in leadership-development training and service for community agencies and organizations of all kinds. We believe we will have a significant impact on Kentucky."

-- Scott Smith,
dean, UK College of Agriculture

May 2, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- Every community in the state stands to benefit from a new facet of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. The Department of Community and Leadership Development, which was approved today by the UK Board of Trustees, will bring together social scientists and educators to help communities deal effectively with issues such as community planning, crisis resolution and business retention.

"Many rural communities are seeking greater resources to properly attend to development and leadership issues," said Scott Smith, dean of the UK College of Agriculture. "By combining our experts on campus in areas such as conflict resolution, community economics, leadership training and business retention with the Cooperative Extension Service, we can offer significantly enhanced support for communities."

Smith said the reorganization, which comes at no cost to the university, is consistent with the vision of UK President Lee T. Todd Jr., who has said he considers the Commonwealth of Kentucky as the UK campus.

"It's appropriate for both our university's agenda and the agenda of the state," Smith said. "We're going to be even more involved in leadership-development training and service for community agencies and organizations of all kinds. We believe we will have a significant impact on Kentucky."