Katelyn Larson, Extension Educator
Katelyn Larson is part of the NECARES team and part of the Stakeholders subgroup. She serves as a statewide Extension Educator with Nebraska Extension and is a part of the Rural Prosperity Nebraska program area. Her work focuses on data and the creation of data resources for Nebraska Extension. Previously, she was a statewide and county based 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator focusing on data management and STEM programming.
1. What do you find most rewarding about the relationship between Extension offices and communities around the state?
I work a lot with data in my current Extension role, but coming into a community, learning about the community behind the data through conversation is what I find the most rewarding. Many community members, and local Extension Educators, can tell you about the history behind the data, what may have occurred in the community which caused a significant change in data points I’ve shared. Without those conversations and relationship building, the data would just be numbers on paper, which may not tell the true story of the community.
2. What excites you about NECARES’ potential to support the communities you’re passionate about?
The NECARE’s project excites me because it is an opportunity to bring together faculty with various areas of expertise and research while, at the same time, listening to community members from around the state express their needs, aspirations, and wants for their own local communities. The team effort to address these community challenges between the community members and the University faculty – whether that is in creating research questions or simply connecting the community to the resources of the University – can move both entities towards a better future.
3. What do you see as essential for keeping youth engaged with the future of Nebraska?
Keeping youth engaged in their futures, and the future of our state, begins with listening. Youth and adult partnerships can be very powerful community tools when utilized. Today’s youth want to be involved in their communities and want to know they are heard, understood, and their opinions valued–it is essential to remember our decisions of today will impact today’s youth far longer than it will impact the decision makers.
4. In your opinion, where is the greatest area of opportunity for the University to build new partnerships or partner in new ways?
As a 15-year faculty member based off campus, my perspective on this is unique. In my opinion, the greatest area of opportunity for the University is to expand off-campus and the greater Lincoln area and make connections. The communities of Nebraska offer a wide range of experiences, relationship building opportunities, and knowledge that when partnered with campus-based resources, could be very powerful.