I seem to be missing a few blog posts. Apparently, I need to learn how to write directly into the portal and actually make the post. I realized the other day that some of the posts I thought I had made were missing so I must have failed to save the post. Sadly, I cannot remember what the posts included as content. I will just move on then.

A couple of times in the last few weeks I have heard mention that there is a lack of clarity as to the differences between a CE Specialist and a CE Advisor. The question is a good one! After 20 years as an Extension Specialist, I am not sure I know if there is a clear definition. I have my understanding of the differences between the positions. This understanding formed the basis of how I operated during my career and what I continue to perceive as the clear value that necessitates an 'and/both' rather than an 'either/or' model for an effective Cooperative Extension system. I posed the question to a few people. What I heard back is that the difference between the CE Advisor and CE Specialist titles is one of geography whereby a CE Specialist addresses topics on a statewide basis while a CE Advisor operates on a regional, county, or area basis. I argue that the differences are that and much more.

Here is how I have always looked at it: A CE Specialist looks at the issues of tomorrow, trying to prevent some things from happening while at the same time working to increase the likelihood that other things do happen. The CE specialist addresses things that will be relevant across the state or in any portion of the state. A CE Advisor (also referred to as a field specialist in at least one state) focuses on a region or area of the state and addresses the problems of today in that geographic area. The relationship between a CE Advisor and a CE Specialist is one of symbiosis. The CE Advisor is the 'boots on the ground, eyes in the field' partner, interacting with clientele to learn of current challenges and working through implementation of solutions. As the trusted middleman between the client and the CE Specialist, the CE Advisor feeds information to the CE Specialist who uses that information to set course for the future, identifying needs and predicting challenges while focusing on delivering science that leads to the development of policy and new solutions for problems yet undefined. The CE Specialist is the intermediary between the bench researcher and the CE Advisor, working closely with both and feeding/receiving information from both directions.

The roles are entirely different though both are expected to develop and share research-based information through research and dissemination activities (published and direct delivery), requiring that personnel in both title codes find outside resources to support their programs. The differences are in scope, both geographic and temporal, which then translate to operational differences on a day-to-day basis. For example, the CE Specialist may engage in research more and with clientele less than the CE Advisor. The client may be different. The CE Specialist may operate more in a train-the-trainer mode with CE Advisors as key clientele as well as perhaps agency staff whereas the CE Advisor may work more with the end-users such as managers, farmers, and field staff. At least in my program, I could never have been successful (or as successful) if I did not have my CE Advisor colleagues.

I'm curious what you think, about what is the standard and about what should be the standard going forward.