Hyde appointed director of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

 COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Jeff Hyde has been appointed director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service following an Aug. 8 vote by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

Hyde will begin work Sept. 1 in College Station after previously serving as acting associate dean and director of Penn State Extension, providing oversight of extension programs, operations and external relations, as well as serving as a professor of agricultural economics.

“I am very excited to come to Texas A&M and look forward to establishing a strategic plan and vision for AgriLife Extension that supports its traditional audiences, allowing us to spread our impacts to all Texans,” Hyde said.

Hyde has an extensive background in extension education at Penn State, serving as associate director for programs and assistant director of special program initiatives, supporting digital delivery of educational and informational content.

His extension programs have focused on helping farm businesses with core emphasis on business planning, marketing and human resource management. Hyde also led training of county-based extension educators and business managers utilizing e-learning methods.

Hyde has served as associate department head for agricultural economics, sociology and education at Penn State as well as serving in leadership roles for administrative and leadership professional development programs.

Hyde earned his doctorate and master’s degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Frostburg State University. He also earned an associate of arts degree in business administration from Allegany Community College.