The best of both worlds: What I learned when I embraced my university extension career

The University of Florida’s Cooperative Extension System provides a diversity of public-serving information including the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants, a comprehensive risk analysis program. I initially accepted the Assessment coordinator position believing this would be a career stepping stone and 6 years later, I am still here. Our program successfully incorporates extension outreach services, while actively engaging in invasion science research and student mentoring. I am proud of my role in the advancement of the Assessment and in this presentation, I will use my experience to highlight the possibilities a career in cooperative extension can provide.