Barbara Eshelman
Extension Associate,Sr
2007
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Current Activities
Current Professional Activities
Current Research Activities
Current Extension Activities
Staff and Supervisor Development – established and maintained efficient and effective staff and supervisory development efforts throughout the CCE System
• Provided leadership for a successful effort to modify and take Cornell University’s Supervisor Development Certification Program to supervisors throughout the CCE System. Introduced “staff skills for success” as the foundation for CCE’s performance management system. A total of 235 CCE employees from 50 different county associations participated and 41 of 56 Executive Directors attended. Feedback was very positive with 94% of respondents indicating the program either was “excellent” or “better than expected”.
• Led and facilitated CCE’s New Staff Introduction (NSI) program two or three times annually on the Cornell campus for an average of 35 new staff at each session. Utilized on-line resources for registration and interaction prior to NSI sessions on campus. Incorporated session for new Finance/Payroll/HR staff annually. Program consistently receives positive evaluations from participants Also maintained the CCE staff website for “new staff orientation” providing orientation resources to supervisors in CCE associations.
• Developed content and contributed regularly to CCE new Executive Director “boot camp” with focus on human resources and financial management content. Sessions are held annually in each content area and about 10 CCE Executive Directors attend each session.
• Active member of CCE Professional Development Team contributing to a body of knowledge related to core competencies for effective extension educators and staff skills for success.
Affirmative Action, Diversity and Inclusion – developed, introduced, and began rolling out Comprehensive Affirmative Action and Diversity Plan (CAADP) template and implementation guide for CCE associations and provided leadership for organizational development efforts for diversity and inclusion.
• Completed CAADP template for CCE association adoption. Updated CCE’s Equal Opportunity Policy Statement. Worked with Cornell’s Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity and Life Quality to provide availability and utilization data by county for CCE association individual affirmative action plans. Introduced CAADP at May ’06 CCE System conference; put plan and resources on CCE staff website; developed implementation guide to accompany CAADP; provided initial training to Executive Directors in February ’07.
• Instrumental in establishing a part-time Diversity Specialist position for the CCE System.
• Key leadership for CCE System involvement in USDA/CSREES “Change Agent States for Diversity” initiative. Completed system-wide climate assessment survey and report in 2002-2003 which became a model for other units at Cornell.
• Active member of CCE Diversity Catalyst Team /CCE Diversity and Professional Development Team. Member of planning committee and presenter at Diversity Conference on “Building Inclusive Organizations and Outreach” targeting non-profit administrators and staff and attended by about 150 registrants from across the country. Numerous presentations in CCE related to appreciating differences and creating respectful workplaces.
• Effectively acted upon and resolved employee relation concerns throughout the CCE System.
Organizational Development and Leadership – effective change leadership for Finance Team, Human Resource Team, and EAST (Extension Administration Staff Team) within CCE Administration
• Directly supervised and managed six exempt finance, human resource and compliance review professionals in CCE administration and contributed to several CCE administrative systems teams. Updated all position descriptions and built a results-oriented finance team with clear definition of roles and responsibilities.
• Worked closely with CCE Executive Associate Director on the “CCE Administrative Systems Strategic
Biography
Education
M.S. Cornell University, Adult Education/Human Resource Management, 1991
B.S. University of Illinois, Education, 1971
Administrative Responsibilities
Cornell Cooperative Extension Administration
Human Resource Manager and Finance Team Leader