In a time of great change for Extension Services at Iowa State with the impact of new technology and finance changes, the university announced Stanley Johnson, director of Iowa State’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development for 11 years, as the new vice provost for Extension Services.

“This is a very exciting opportunity to help Iowa State University be better connected to the people of Iowa and to others in the United States and around the world,” Johnson said.

He added that extension can contribute a great deal to the quality of life with its programs in agriculture, business, engineering, family and consumer science.

President Martin Jischke said that Johnson is an outstanding choice to lead Iowa State University Extension into the 21st century. “He is an energetic, innovative and visionary leader, and he has been very successful nationally and internationally in the areas of agricultural policy and development, which are extremely important to Iowa’s future.”

Provost John Kozak said Johnson’s impressive contributions to the scholarship in his field of agricultural economics have been recognized by Iowa State University in his being named C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and by several honorary degrees from other institutions.

The vice provost for extension coordinates and administers Iowa State’s outreach effort, working closely with other faculty members to integrate that effort with teaching and research programs.