My name is Karen Vines and I will serve as course coordinator and assist you with any problems you might encounter as you go through this course. I keep quite busy in the Department of Dairy & Animal Science, serving as distance education coordinator and an academic advisor for the Animal Science Program. In addition, I coordinate the equine science minor and serve as advisor for CHAPS (Collegiate Horsemen's Association at Penn State). I also coordinate the College of Agricultural Sciences LEAP (Learning Edge Academic Program) for freshmen in the summer. I received my B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky in 1987 and M.S. from Virginia Tech in 1989 working with a forage-livestock team.

I currently serve as national chair for the Teaching & Educational Technologies Committee of the (NACAA) National Association of County Agricultural Agents and as chair of the Emerging Leadership Committee for national (ESP) Epsilon Sigma Phi. In 2003 I provided leadership for a team that received the Vice President's Award for Innovation "Pathfinder" Award for a project that provided an on-line source of information for dairy producer's considering expansion.

I served as a County Extension Educator in Virginia , Kentucky and Indiana, working one-on-one to provide educational programs for agricultural producers, their families and communities prior to coming to Penn State in 2001. In 1998, I was appointed co-chair of the Purdue Beef Team, overseeing statewide educational programming and utilization of educational resources. I moved to the Purdue campus in West Lafayette in March 2000 to coordinate the development of on-line beef and dairy extension programs. While at Purdue I directed the development of an on-line beef quality assurance certification program currently utilized by a five-state beef initiative and an on-line milk quality training for dairy farm employees. During this time I also served as editor and contributing author to the Purdue Integrated Resource Management (IRM) newsletter and coordinated IRM record collection and analysis for beef operations in southeast Indiana.

I joined the Penn State family in June 2001. I strongly believe in providing educational opportunities through multiple methods to best meet the needs of you, the student. I have long enjoyed working with agricultural producers and industry and welcome your questions, comments and feedback on this course. I am easily accessible via e-mail ( kvines@psu.edu or course e-mail) and you can generally expect a response within 24 hours. You may also contact me by phone (814-865-3097) during office hours.

Best wishes as you proceed with this course.

Sincerely,

Karen Vines

Distance Education Coordinator
Penn State University
313 Henning Building
University Park, PA 16802
voice: 814-865-3097
fax:    814-863-6042
e-mail: kvines@psu.edu

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