Kansas State University will serve as the host institution for the 2026 North-Central Extension Leadership Development (NELD) Program, reinforcing the university’s commitment to leadership excellence and its strategic vision through Elevate 2025, an initiative announced earlier this year.
As part of Elevate 2025 and the transition to university-level oversight of K-State Extension (formerly K-State Research and Extension), hosting the NELD program within the Staley School of Leadership highlights K-State’s role in strengthening leadership capacity across the region and expanding its impact as a modern, connected land-grant institution.
“K-State is proud to be the next host of the NELD program. While extension professionals can choose from a variety of leadership programs, few leadership development programs focus on leadership in extension,” said Gregg Hadley, Ph.D., assistant vice president and director for K-State Extension. “Whether a person is interested in local, state, national, administrative, or programmatic leadership – NELD will prepare you for your extension leadership goals!”
The NELD program brings together extension professionals from 13 states across the North Central region to cultivate leadership skills, build collaborative networks, and prepare participants to lead with purpose and vision. Through a blend of in-person and virtual learning, participants gain practical tools to strengthen their leadership identity and translate insights into real-world organizational and community impact.
Since its inception, NELD has equipped hundreds of extension professionals to lead with integrity, inclusion and strategic foresight. The 2026 program will continue that tradition while highlighting the continued learning for extension professionals and leadership development expertise of the Staley School.
“Hosting NELD at K- State and the Staley School is an honor. We are proud to steward the leadership development of the extension professionals who invest tirelessly in our communities throughout the region,” said Trisha Gott, Ed.D., associate dean, Staley School of Leadership.
The 2026 cohort will involve in-person experiences in Kansas City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Virtual sessions will complement the in-person experiences, providing continuous opportunities for reflection, collaboration and skill application throughout the year.
For more information about the NELD program, visit the NELD website. K-State Extension professionals interested in learning more should contact Laurie Chandler at lchandle@ksu.edu. For general inquiries, contact Andrew Kohls, NELD program manager, at andrewkohls@ksu.edu.
