Dr. Marilyn Norman’s 38-year career brought leadership to Florida 4-H as State Program Leader during a critical time within IFAS. In the role as 4-H PL, she embraced a very daunting strategic plan following an external review and identified priorities for change. She was instrumental in moving FL 4-H forward, enhancing programs and funding. Marilyn took leadership in a successful grassroots legislative campaign that approved funding in the amount of $1.5 M annually. Through this funding her vision to create five regional agent positions was achieved. These faculty mentored and supported county agents resulting in a reduction of attrition from 33% to 20%.
Marilyn’ leadership accomplishments include: redeeming FL 4-H camping through partnerships with local communities and Operation Military Kids camp grants for 8 years totaling an avg of $500,000 to support camp; increasing external partnerships and promoting a cultural change within the FL 4-H Foundation; implementation of a volunteer screening policy; and work to re-establish the NAE4-HA Urban 4-H Program committee, sponsoring 5 yrs of seminars including a juried “successful urban programs” site. She strategically pushed for youth and volunteer engagement in all levels of programming and advocated for youth voice, and she worked to instill a culture of youth-adult partnerships statewide.
.
