Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6568-4820
Date Available
12-13-2024
Year of Publication
2025
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College
Education
Department/School/Program
Educational Leadership Studies
Advisor
Dr. Beth Rous
Abstract
The Cooperative Extension System (CES) plays a vital role in community education and development across the United States. CES agents and specialists work directly with community members to identify needs, mobilize existing assets, and empower action. Despite the overlap in the fields of CES and community development, few studies have systematically analyzed the specific practices used by extension personnel who act as facilitators of change within communities. To address this gap in knowledge, a qualitative study was conducted using directed content analysis of CES success stories published through the University of Kentucky to identify practices used among two integral positions within CES: agents and specialists. These practices were examined through the theoretical frameworks of Grant and Hains’ Foundational Phases for Community Development and Bhattacharyya’s Theory of Solidarity and Agency (1995, 2004). Together, these frameworks provided a foundation for categorizing practices into the constructs of Solidarity, Capacity, Agency, and community development leadership, offering a lens for examining how CES personnel engage with and support the community development process. Understanding how extension faculty and staff act as community leaders to foster solidarity, build capacity, and promote agency can provide insights into effective community development strategies. Findings from this study expand on the understanding of the community development processes facilitated by CES agents and specialists by identifying practices derived from these frameworks. In addition, findings helped inform training and professional development for extension personnel on effective community engagement and leadership strategies aligned to solidarity, capacity, and agency outcomes.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2024.455
Recommended Citation
Grant, George, "THE ROLE OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF SUCCESS STORIES AND LEADERSHIP PRACTICES" (2025). Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies. 57.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/edl_etds/57
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Educational Leadership Commons
