Gary Brown Jackson has been named Mississippi State University’s new Extension Service director. 
Jackson, currently serving as the Interim Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, said he looks forward to working with the current Extension team by supporting them, particularly the field staff.  One of the things Jackson said he hopes to expand is the Extensions Service’s international relations by helping people similar to Mississippians in other countries.
He said the Extension Service is informal education and primarily directed at the citizens of Mississippi in all 82 counties. Adults are the service’s main focus, but there are programs for youth as well. Extension’s responsibility at MSU is meeting scientific-based needs of the people through programs, research, curricula and disaster relief.
“When our [agriculture] producers have some type of major problem …, extension faculty has worked to resolve problems by implementing educational programs to farmers and producers,” Jackson said.
He said he graduated from MSU in 1984 with a degree in agriculture and extension education and received his master’s three years later. After receiving his doctorate at Pennsylvania State University, Jackson said he was fortunate enough to return to his alma mater as an assistant professor of agriculture and extension education and agriculture communication.
Afterward, he was the Assistant Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for five years. Director of Human Sciences was his next title, and he said a third part of his job was to coordinate Extension programs in the state, which helped prepare him for his new position as director. Jackson said his passion for the Extension Center really grew during his eight years there.
“[Being the] Director of Human Sciences was tremendous experience,” he said. “There’s no way I would have considered, or ever been selected, for Extension Director without that experience.”
Jackson said he is humbled by the support and appreciative to the MSU administration, faculty and staff for offering him the job. His current position in the Office of the Provost has also been  a great experience for him, he said. 
Peter L. Ryan, Interim Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, has worked closely with Jackson and said he understands the needs and wants of the people because he is an administrator and a farmer.
It will also be beneficial for the Office of the Provost for someone like him to be director because he understands the relationship of his current office and the Extension Service, Ryan said.
“He has a very engaging personality and is an excellent listener,” Ryan said. “He is a very good communicator, and he has the ability to make the tough decisions.”
Michael Newman, close friend of Jackson and professor in the School of Human Sciences said he and Jackson have worked together on campus for the past 20 years but have known each other since they were children. Even as an undergraduate, Newman said Jackson was in leadership positions and has had many since then.
“One of the reasons why I think people like for him to do the job is [because] he is just a good guy who gets along well with everybody,” Newman said.  “He’s just somebody that’s trustworthy and people enjoy working for him.”
Jackson will assume his new role on Jan. 1, 2011.