UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jeffrey Hyde, most recently a professor and administrator at Texas A&M University, has returned to Pennsylvania to become director of Penn State Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences. He started in his new role on April 25.
Hyde takes the reins from Katherine Cason, professor of food science and former associate director of extension, who had been the interim director since June 2023. As director, Hyde will oversee program planning; budget, facilities and human resource management; and government, industry and constituent relations. Penn State Extension has a statewide presence and about 200 county-based educators.
Hyde is no stranger to Penn State. He joined the faculty in the College of Agricultural Sciences in 2000 as an assistant professor of agricultural economics, reaching the rank of full professor in 2012. During that time, he developed and delivered extension educational programs on topics such as farm business planning, marketing and human resource management. From 2008 to 2015, he led Penn State Extension's statewide agriculture entrepreneurship and economic/community development programs.
Hyde also served as associate head of the college's Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education and as assistant to the director for special initiatives for Penn State Extension. In 2017, he was named associate extension director for programs, a role in which he provided leadership for the development and delivery of high-quality, relevant and impactful extension educational programs, products and services through a variety of formats, with an eye toward expanding reach and access.
After serving briefly as acting director of Penn State Extension, Hyde in 2019 accepted the position of director of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. He most recently was a member of the Texas institution’s agricultural economics faculty.
A recipient of numerous awards and honors, Hyde earned a bachelor's degree from Frostburg State University and master's and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue University.
Hyde noted that several factors prompted his interest in returning to Penn State Extension.
“The people who work here are passionate about the mission and have a heart for serving the people that we serve, whether that’s agricultural and food producers, 4-H youth, families or communities,” he said. “We are building on tradition with innovation, and in that respect, we’re at the leading edge nationally, which is exciting. ... Our goal is to be the land-grant face of Penn State in serving the citizens of Pennsylvania and addressing many of the pressing issues facing the commonwealth.”
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state and county governments, Penn State Extension shares unbiased, research-based information with individuals, families, businesses and communities through nonformal educational programs designed to meet locally identified needs.