UW Extension welcomes director

The University of Wyoming (UW) recently welcomed Mandy Marney as director of UW Extension and associate dean of the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources.

Marney joined UW Extension in 2020 as associate director and was named senior associate director in 2022. She assumed her new role on April 29.

“I am pleased Marney will join the leadership team of our college as an associate dean and the director of UW Extension,” says Kelly Crane, interim dean of the college. “In her prior roles at UW, Mandy has clearly demonstrated her leadership capacity through innovation, collaboration and a dedication to ensuring UW Extension is responsive to the needs of Wyoming communities.”

As senior associate director, Marney has helped oversee Extension programming across the state, with an emphasis on 4-H and community vitality and health. Throughout her tenure at UW, she has supported county and statewide initiatives addressing community well-being, mental and physical health and youth leadership.

“I am deeply honored to accept the position of associate dean and director,” Marney says. “I am excited about serving the organization in this new role, working with college leadership, the Extension administration team and our field faculty to make positive differences in the lives of Wyoming residents.”

Marney also looks forward to building relationships with stakeholders and partners on a regional scale. 

In 2023, she helped launch the Western Region Mental Health and Nutrition Network, bringing together researchers and professionals to address widespread challenges related to nutrition, food security and mental health.

Marney’s interdisciplinary approach to community outreach stems from both her academic background and her experience as an educator and administrator at several land-grant universities.

Prior to joining UW Extension, Marney served as district director at Kansas State University Research and Extension. She also held several positions at the University of Missouri Extension, including Extension associate in bioengineering, agriculture preparedness specialist and community development specialist.

As a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Marney earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural journalism, followed by a master’s degree in environment and behavior and a PhD in human environmental sciences. From 2007-16, she served as a program director for the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.

Brooke Ortel is a writer and editor for UW Extension. This article was originally published in UW Ag News on April 29.