Dr. Ivory W. Lyles recently announced his retirement will be effective Apr. 30. Lyles has served as Oregon State University’s (OSU) vice provost for extension and engagement since 2021. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and oversight of the university’s community engagement mission and directs the statewide OSU Extension Service.

Under Lyles’ leadership, OSU’s division of extension and engagement has made significant accomplishments in community engagement, youth development, and public service, including:

  • Helping OSU reinvigorate its focus on community engagement and the scholarship of engagement, highlighted by the establishment of the OSU Engagement Council and the hosting of an inaugural OSU engagement conference.
  • Strengthening OSU’s relationships and extension presence in every corner of the state.
  • Collaborating with many — internal and external to OSU — to help secure a record 15.5% increase in state legislative funding for OSU’s statewide public service programs (OSU Extension Service among them), contributing to the sustainability and growth of vital programs and to the filling of positions in areas of critical need across the state.
  • Helping secure a five-year, $10 million grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that designates OSU as a national center of excellence for youth development and coordinator of a national network of projects in NIFA’s Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America program. Under this program OSU also leads a regional project (inclusive of western United States, tribal communities, and U.S. insular areas) to develop a youth curriculum with emphasis on climate-smart agriculture and forestry.
  • Hiring an inaugural divisional director of native and tribal programs.

The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is appreciative of Lyles’ partnership and commitment to AOC and Oregon’s counties. We look forward to continuing to work with the OSU Extension Service, and acting vice provost Dr. Kristopher Elliott and his leadership team, to support our members. 

Contributed by: Kristen Paul | member services and education director