Lonnette Marsh honored with emerita status

BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 11, 2010 – Lonnette Marsh, central district director for Virginia Cooperative Extension, has been conferred the “district director emerita” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The title of emerita may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

Marsh has been a member of Virginia Cooperative Extension since 1988. As central district director, she provided administrative leadership for 19 unit offices, which included direct supervision of 49 district and field extension faculty and staff members, fiscal administration, leadership for local and state government relations and support, and district program and volunteer development.

In addition, she served as a member of the State Family Consumer Science Extension Council, the State 4-H Leadership Council, the W. E. Skelton 4-H Educational Center at Smith Mountain Lake board of directors, the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center board of directors, and the Jamestown 2007 America’s 400th Anniversary Committee.

In honor of her achievements, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, the Outstanding Home Economics Team Award, and the Virginia Chapter of 4-H All Stars Award.

Marsh received her bachelor’s degree from North Carolina A&T University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Virginia Cooperative Extension brings the resources of Virginia's land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth. Through a system of on-campus specialists and locally based educators, it delivers education in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community viability, and 4-H youth development. With a network of faculty at two universities, 107 county and city offices, 11 agricultural research and Extension centers, and six 4-H educational centers, Virginia Cooperative Extension provides solutions to the problems facing Virginians today.