LEAD21 develops leaders in land grant institutions and their strategic partners who link research, academics, and extension in order to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment.
Leaders in Action
Ben West
Mississippi State University
Based on his participation in LEAD21, Ben West of Mississippi State University was given the opportunity to serve as an Administrative Associate for the Vice President of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine at MSU. In this role, he shadows various members of the division's administration as well as is tasked with a few special projects. His current project is to revise the reporting system for the experiment station. Dr. West is an Associate Professor at Mississippi State University and serves as the National Outreach Coordinator for the Berryman Institute, which is jointly housed at Mississippi State and Utah State Universities and has the mission of resolving human-wildlife conflicts through the land grant tradition of teaching, research, and outreach.
Jon Boren
New Mexico State University
Jon Boren of New Mexico State University has been named the Interim Associate Dean and Director of the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service. In this position his responsibilities include administrative management and overall program leadership for the extension service as well as special assignments. Jon is the Extension Wildlife Specialist at NMSU and a graduate of LEAD21 2007-2008.

