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CORVALLIS - A. Scott Reed, an associate dean in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University and an experienced forestry Extension program leader, has been named dean and director of the OSU Extension Service.

Reed will begin his new duties Sept. 1. He succeeds Kelvin Koong, who has been in the position on an interim basis for the past year.

As dean and director, Reed will oversee an Extension Service that has OSU faculty and programs in every Oregon county - and an organization that is serving a state contending with changes in politics, demographics, and economies.

"Our challenge is to match our knowledge base to the issues of Oregon's people and to use Extension's mission of education to apply research to solving the state's problems," Reed said. "Extension best serves Oregon when we utilize OSU's education and research to help empower people and communities to make better decisions that ultimately lead to a better future."

The OSU Extension Service has more than 550 faculty and staff located on campus and throughout the state and an annual budget of about $40 million.

OSU President Ed Ray has been a vocal advocate for the university's Land Grant mission and says a robust Extension Service is critical to both OSU's strategic goals and the needs of Oregon.

"Scott Reed has the right blend of leadership, vision and experience at many levels to help the OSU Extension Service become a model program for the 21st century," Ray said. "Extension is evolving to meet the changing needs of Oregon communities. The state's population is aging and becoming more ethnically diverse, which leads to changing demands for educational services. Oregon is becoming more urbanized and at the same time that creates new opportunities, it results in even greater needs for rural communities that lack the political and economic clout of more populated areas.

"These are challenges that Extension can meet," Ray added, "and Scott Reed is the ideal person to help us reach those goals."

Reed came to OSU from the University of Minnesota in 1990, when he was named assistant dean of the College of Forestry and took over program leader for Extension's forestry program. Five years later, he was promoted to full professor and associate dean, and in 2000, he was named executive associate dean of forestry.

Forestry is one of five Extension program areas at OSU. The others are Agriculture, Family and Community Development, 4-H Youth Development, and Ocean and Coastal Resources (through Oregon Sea Grant).

As program leader, Reed worked closely with OSU's Forest Research Laboratory and Agricultural Experiment Station, which, together with Extension, form the university's "statewide services." Extension Forestry has several research and education programs that have been developed or thrived under Reed's leadership. One of those programs is the Sustainable Forestry Partnership, a national effort to develop and apply innovations in the practice of contemporary forest practices and policies. During the last decade, OSU created and helped nurture that effort.

Another is the highly integrated watershed stewardship education program, in collaboration with the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. Reed represents OSU Extension on that board.

Reed also has been instrumental in Extension Forestry's wildfire education efforts; the Master Woodland Manager program; education, research and marketing support for managing family-owned timberlands; and educational efforts to inform family forest owners about new tax laws. He regularly lectures on outreach topics within the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations.

"Scott Reed is a very efficient, very focused man," said Mike Gaudern, executive director of the Oregon Small Woodlands Association and Family Forests of Oregon, based in Salem. "We're sad to see him leave the forestry arena, but glad he'll be around to lead the OSU Extension Service in its entirety."

Gaudern noted that he's worked with Reed on projects such as developing a small woodlands marketing database. "He's very effective in making sure a group stays focused on its goals," Gaudern said.

The Extension Service recently completed a strategic plan that dovetails with the university's plan and outlines how it will engage Oregon's people and communities through 2010 and beyond. Reed, who co-chaired the planning effort, said Extension is focusing on three themes: strengthening communities and economies; sustaining natural resources; and promoting healthy families and individuals.

"We have the education and research expertise to really make a difference in these areas," Reed said, "but ultimately our success will depend on partnering with communities, businesses, organizations and individuals to create greater access to Extension programs, and more efficiency in everything we do."

All of the university's academic deans report to OSU Provost Sabah Randhawa, who selected Reed to lead the Extension program after a national search. Randhawa said Reed received strong support from OSU campus leaders and stakeholders around the state.

"The support for Scott Reed in this critical position was very impressive," Randhawa said. "He has demonstrated his effectiveness not only as a manager, but as an advocate for Extension who can work with community, business and education leaders to create more effective programs to help Oregonians at a variety of levels. He has the ability to listen to concerns and then find creative solutions."

Reed is a 1975 graduate of Michigan State University, where he also earned a master's degree - both in forestry. He has a Ph.D. in forest economics and policy from the University of Minnesota.