Tahira Hira has been named associate vice provost for the Iowa State University Extension after holding the post on a interim basis for the past year.

ISU Extension Vice Provost Stanley Johnson said he was pleased about Hira’s appointment.

“Now that her appointment is permanent, she will become an even more effective resource for Iowa citizens,” he said.

The ISU Extension department, with its network of 107 area and county offices, seeks to advance the excellence in education by the integration of a supportive and challenging environment for student learning and research. It also gives Iowa citizens a chance to engage with the university.

As associate vice provost, Hira will manage ISU Extension’s county and area operations.

Her work with Johnson will mainly focus in managing the department’s program activities in six areas: agricultural and natural resources, youth and 4H programs, community and family involvement, business and industry and extended education.

Hira also will be responsible for coordinating Extension programs, developing initiative, organizing fund-raising projects, and handling day-to-day administrative duties.

She will represent the department on university and national committees and with state agencies and interest groups. Hira will also work as a liaison with Extension clients and assist the vice provost with the Iowa Associate Extension Councils.

“Hira is a strong member of the ISU community as a teacher, researcher and intern,” Johnson said.

Hira has been a member of the ISU faculty since 1980 in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. She received her doctorate in family economics and management from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Other accomplishments include receiving the Strong-Minded Women Award and the Wilton Park International Achievement Award in 1998 and the Iowa State Board of Regents Award for Faculty Excellence in 1996. She also has received the Distinguished Fellows Award and the Research Excellence Award of the Japan Society of Household Economics.