Allisen Penn (Photo courtesy of UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences)
The College of Family and Consumer Sciences has named Allisen Penn from the University of Tennessee Extension as its associate dean for Extension and outreach.
Penn, who joined UGA on Aug. 1, spent the previous decade as regional program leader for UT Extension in Nashville, Tennessee.
The FACS associate dean for Extension and outreach is responsible for leading the college in fulfilling its land-grant university mission of providing Georgia’s residents, businesses and communities access to quality educational experiences and the institution’s knowledge base.
“Dr. Penn is a proven leader who brings extensive experience and skills to support Extension and outreach programming,” FACS Dean Linda Kirk Fox said. “With 10 Extension faculty and
52 FACS Extension agents delivering programming throughout the state, Extension and outreach efforts are a vital part of our overall land-grant mission. We’re excited to have Dr. Penn as a member of our team and look forward to her leadership of this critical component of the college.”
Penn will work closely with leaders from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UGA Extension, the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach and other colleges and units for the successful application of research to priority needs of the state.
She also will lead through the Georgia Clinical Translational Science Alliance to address health and wellness needs, particularly in rural and underserved populations, by strengthening and expanding research collaborations with faculty from a variety of disciplines.
Penn has an extensive background in Extension work. She has provided more than 150 presentations and trainings and has authored nine publications. In addition, she has developed educational materials for Extension and outreach.
She succeeds Deborah Murray, who retired in June after serving in the role since 2012.