Penn State Starts Podcast About Careers in Extension
The BEST Podcast is a new podcast series produced through Penn State's Broadening Extension through Student Training (BEST) program in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Designed for graduate students interested in Extension careers, the podcast features conversations with Extension faculty and professionals about their career pathways, day-to-day work, and advice for students considering Extension as a profession.
Recent episodes feature Tyler Groh, Extension Specialist with Penn State Extension's Water Team; Jesse Kreye, Extension Specialist in Fire and Natural Resources; and Melissa Kreye, Extension Specialist in Forest Resources Management. The podcast is hosted by Melissa Kreye and Sarah Widderich in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.
BEST Podcast Episodes.
Launched in 2022 by Extension professionals in Penn State's Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, BEST is a free, one-week professional development program for graduate students in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The program introduces students to the what, why, and how of Extension, with the goal of strengthening science communication skills and supporting the sustainable management of natural resources and agriculture. BEST also fosters connections and collaboration among faculty and students across programs.
The curriculum includes 11 assessed modules covering core Extension competencies, including Cooperative Extension history and policy, stakeholder and audience identification, the Extension Formula, Extension philosophy and theory (including servant leadership), program design and evaluation, and Extension career pathways. Additional topics address youth Extension (such as 4-H), access and equity, sustainability and natural resources, and forestland stakeholder engagement.
Since its launch, the BEST program has reached more than 100 graduate students from Penn State, as well as a small number of students from North Carolina State University, helping build the next generation of Extension professionals.
