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Purdue Extension Looks to the Future with Regional Model
Angie Abbott discusses new directions for the 100-year-old organization
Feb. 24, 2026 at 2:50am
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Angie Abbott, the new Associate Dean and Director of Purdue Extension, is outlining plans to transition the organization from a county-based model to a more regional approach. The goal is to better utilize the expertise of Purdue's specialists and sustain the organization for the next century of service across Indiana's 92 counties.
Why it matters
As communities and needs evolve across Indiana, Purdue Extension is adapting its model to ensure it can continue delivering critical programs and expertise to residents for years to come. The regional approach aims to strengthen services while maintaining the local 4-H presence that has been a hallmark of the organization.
The details
Abbott says Purdue Extension will move away from its traditional county-based structure and instead organize regionally to better leverage the organization's subject matter experts. This will allow specialists in areas like entomology, health, and community development to serve multiple counties more efficiently. The local 4-H programs will remain a core part of the model, but other initiatives will be regionalized.
- Angie Abbott officially took over as Associate Dean and Director of Purdue Extension last month.
- Purdue Extension has been serving Indiana for over 100 years.
The players
Angie Abbott
The new Associate Dean and Director of Purdue Extension, who previously served as the interim in this role.
Purdue Extension
A 100-year-old organization that provides educational programs and expertise to residents across Indiana's 92 counties.
What they’re saying
“We have to think about how, as our neighborhoods change and how the state of Indiana's needs change, we have to change and adapt with those needs as well.”
— Angie Abbott, Associate Dean and Director, Purdue Extension
“We want to make sure that we use our human capital the best way. We make sure that we have the experts—that is, the expert in entomology, in heart health—or, whomever the experts are, that we have them and they're the ones that are delivering the expertise and the education to the clients who need that type of information.”
— Angie Abbott, Associate Dean and Director, Purdue Extension
What’s next
Abbott says the plans for a regional model are still in development, but the goal is to have the new structure in place over the next few years to ensure the long-term sustainability of Purdue Extension.
The takeaway
Purdue Extension is evolving its century-old model to better serve Indiana's changing communities, leveraging subject matter experts regionally while maintaining its local 4-H presence. This adaptability aims to sustain the organization's critical educational programs for generations to come.
