Nancy Franz,
Professor/Specialist Program Development Virginia Cooperative Extension

Prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Tech, Dr. Franz was the Associate Director for the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and Professor of Youth Development with the University of Wisconsin Extension. Her professional experience began as a 4H Agent in Wisconsin. Dr. Franz enjoys being outdoors, travel, and reading. She and her husband Bill live in Blacksburg.

Education

• Cornell University, Ph.D., Agriculture, Extension, and Adult Education, 2002
• University of Wisconsin-Superior, M.E.P.D, Masters of Education Professional Development, 1985
• Northland College, B. S., Environmental Studies/Outdoor Education/Recreation, 1981
• Virginia Tech, Master Online Educator Certificate Program, 2006

Research interests

• Conditions for transformative learning
• Cooperative Extension teaching and learning

Recent publications

Dissertation: Transformative Learning in Intraorganization Partnerships, 2002, Cornell University.

Franz, N. (2009). “A Holistic Model of Engaged Scholarship: Telling the Story Across Higher Education’s Mission.” The Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement 13 (3).

Franz, N. (forthcoming). “Promoting organizational sustainability: Engaging volunteers to tell the program impact story.” The Journal of Volunteer Administration.

Franz, N., Garst, B., Baughman, S., Smith, C., & Peters, B. (forthcoming) “Catalyzing transformation: Conditions in Extension educational environments that promote change.” Journal of Extension (www.joe.org).

Potter-Witter, K., Cassidy, D., Franz, N. et al. (2009). Expanding Bioenergy Opportunities From Working Forests and Rangelands: The Cooperative Extension Service. CSREES: Washington, D.C.

Boyer, R., Benson, M., Boyd, H., Forrester, M., Franz, N., Gehrt, K., Pelland, P. & Roan, K. (2009). “Enhancing Accountability: ServeSafe Impact Template Delivers.” Journal of
Extension 47 (3)(www.joe.org).

Garst, B., Franz, N., Baughman, S., Smith, C., & Peters, B. (2009). “Growing Without Limitations: Transformation Among Young Adult Camp Staff.” Journal of Youth Development (http://www.nae4ha.org/directory/jyd/index.html) 4 (1) Article 0401FA002.

Franz, N. & Weeks, R. (2008). “Enhancing Extension Employee Coaching: Navigating the Triangular Relationship.” Journal of Extension (www.joe.org) 46 (5).

Franz, N. (2008). “Second Generation Volunteer Administration: Moving from Transaction to Transformative Volunteer Learning Environments.” The International Journal of Volunteer Administration (www.ijova.org), 25 (2).

Franz, N. & Townson, L. (2008). “Cooperative Extension: A Complex Organization.” in New Directions for Evaluation. Winter 120.

Recent presentations:

June, 2009. Co-presenter. “Evaluating University Engagement Work.” Engagement Academy for University Leaders. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

June, 2009. Presenter. “Where the Heck do I Start? Moving from Program Needs to Program Design.” Master Gardener College. Virginia Cooperative Extension.

June, 2009. Presenter. “Determining and Telling the Public Value Story About the Master Gardener Program.” Master Gardener College Leadership Corps. Virginia Cooperative Extension.

May, 2009. Presenter. “Writing Success Stories.” Tri-State Nutrition Educators Conference. Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia Cooperative Extension System.

May, 2009. Co-presenter. “Improving Program Results Reporting.” Southwest District Extension Agents, Virginia Cooperative Extension.

May, 2009. Facilitator. “Cost Effectiveness of Nutrition Education Programs for Limited Resource Youth.” Expert panel and workshop. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

April, 2009. Co-presenter. “Excellence in Extension.” National Extension and Research Administrative Officers’ Conference. Cooperative States Research, Education, and Extension Service.

April, 2009. Presenter. “Evaluation Learning Communities.” National Evaluation Webinar. North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

March, 2009. Co-Presenter. “Successful Extension Program Reporting.” Extension Programming Institute, Virginia Cooperative Extension.

March, 2009. Presenter. “What’s a Program Theory and Who Needs It?” Extension Programming Institute, Virginia Cooperative Extension.

March, 2009. Key Note. “Creating a Public Value Positions for EFNEP: Telling Our Story After 40 Years of Success.” National EFNEP Coordinators Conference, USDA CSREES.

February, 2009. Co-Presenter. “How Farmers Learn: The Results of a USDA SARE Research Grant.” Virginia Biological Farmers Annual Conference.

February, 2009. Presenter, “Program Development Resources.” New Agent Orientation, Virginia Cooperative Extension.

February, 2009. Presenter, “Planning, Communicating, and Evaluating Programs with Logic Models.” Federal Railroad Administration Program Leaders, U.S. Department of Transportation.

February, 2009. Guest Lecture, “Writing Practice Stories for Personal Success.” UH3004 The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

February, 2009. Presenter, “VCE Programming Resources.” New Agent Orientation, Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Awards and recognition:

• Institutional Team Member – Engagement Academy for University Leaders - 2009

• Extension Award – Department of Ag & Extension Ed, Virginia Tech - 2009

• Reviewer – Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension – 2009 to Present

• Top 35 Most Read Journal of Extension Articles – 2008

• Research Award – Department of Ag & Extension Education, Virginia Tech – 2008

• Member – eXtension Evaluation & Research Advisory Committee – 2007 to Present

• Institution Representative and Reviewer – Journal of Extension – 2007 to Present

• Program Chair EEE-TIG – American Evaluation Association – 2007 to Present

• Mary Nell Greenwood Award – American Evaluation Association - 2005

• Member – Carsey Institute Advisory Committee – 2004 to 2006

• Member - Agricultural Experiment Station Advisory Committee – 2004

• Member – Sea Grant Policy Advisory Committee – 2004 to 2006

• Reviewer – Journal of Leadership Education – 2004 to Present

Courses taught:

• Natural Resources 410/610 Introduction to Environmental Education
• Natural Resources 411/611 Methods for Teaching Environmental Education
• Natural Resources 412/612 Issues in Environmental Education
• Natural Resources 413/613 Research in Environmental Education