UMass Extension Board of Public Overseers
The UMass Extension Board of Public Overseers was created in 1997 to give stakeholders in UMass Extension areas a formal advisory role. The Board, a majority of whose members are appointed by the Governor, advises the Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Extension staff on goals, budget, and program.
Previous Meeting Agendas & Notes
Please note that meeting notes are posted after they have been reviewed and approved by a quorum of the Board. This can sometimes result in delayed posting.
Responsibilities & Membership
The appointed members of the board serve for terms of five years, except for those appointed to fill a vacancy for unexpired term. The board holds its annual meeting in January and meets at least three other times during the year. The University of Massachusetts Extension director attends all meetings of the board and serves as secretary but has no vote in its deliberation. Eight members of the board constitute a quorum.
Members are nominated as follows:
- Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation – 4 members
- Massachusetts Arborists Association – 2 members
- Massachusetts Audubon Society – 1 member
- Massachusetts Forest Alliance, successor organization to the Massachusetts Forestry Association – 1 member
- Massachusetts 4-H Foundation – 1 member
- Massachusetts State 4-H Council – 1 member
- Massachusetts Nutrition Board – 1 member
- Massachusetts Commissioner of Agricultural Resources
- University of Massachusetts President’s Office
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor’s Office
- UMass Extension Director’s Office (ex-officio)
In creating the board, the General Court gave it the power to adopt a policy for the conduct of business, including constitution of board membership. Policies may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of its members. In December, 2005, the board adopted bylaws. Those bylaws create an Advisory Board of between five and fifteen members, including representatives of the Center for Agriculture, the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and the Massachusetts Senate.
The bylaws also created standing committees on Membership and Bylaws,
Planning and Evaluation, and Budget and Policy Advocacy.
Members
As of September, 2024
- Christopher Dunn
Amherst, Massachusetts
Representing the Chancellor’s Office, University of Massachusetts Amherst - Karen Heymann
Granby, Massachusetts
Representing Mass. Audubon - Ashley Randle
Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources - John Lee
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Representing the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Inc. - Michael E. Lueders
Medfield, Massachusetts
Representing the Massachusetts Arborists Association - Deborah Phillips
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Representing the Massachusetts Nutrition Board - Theodore H.N. Wales, Jr.
Needham, Massachusetts
Representing the Massachusetts Arborists Association - Vacant (3 seats)
Representing the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Inc. - Mateo Rull Garza
Representing the Office of the President, University of Massachusetts - Vacant
Representing the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation - Vacant
Representing the Massachusetts Forest Alliance
