Taking the Reins

Jeffrey Hyde, most recently a professor at Texas A&M; University, has returned to Pennsylvania to become director of Penn State Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences. He started in his new role April 25.

Hyde takes the reins from Katherine Cason, professor of food science and former associate director of extension, who had been the interim director since June 2023. As director, Hyde will oversee program planning; budget, facilities and human resource management; and government, industry and constituent relations. He directs an organization with a statewide presence and about 200 county-based educators.

Hyde is no stranger to Penn State. He joined the College of Agricultural Sciences in 2000 as an assistant professor of agricultural economics, reaching the rank of full professor in 2012. During that time, he developed and delivered extension programs on topics such as farm business planning, marketing and human resource management. From 2008 to 2015, he led Penn State Extension's statewide ag entrepreneurship and economic/community development programs.

Hyde's other roles at Penn State included associate head of the college's Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, assistant to the director for special initiatives for Penn State Extension and associate extension director for programs.

After serving briefly as acting director of Penn State Extension, Hyde left in 2019 to become director of Texas A&M; AgriLife Extension Service. He most recently was a member of the Texas institution's agricultural economics faculty.

Hyde, who earned a bachelor's degree from Frostburg State University in Maryland and master's and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue University, noted that several factors prompted his interest in returning to Penn State Extension.

"The people who work here are passionate about the mission and have a heart for serving others, whether that's agricultural and food producers, 4-H youth, families, or communities," he said. "We are building on tradition with innovation, and in that respect, we're at the leading edge nationally, which is exciting.

"Our goal is to be the land-grant face of Penn State in serving the citizens of Pennsylvania and addressing many of the pressing issues facing the commonwealth."

—Chuck Gill