Advisory Council

The State Extension Advisory Council is the stakeholder group that advises UT Extension and the Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Program. Members of the council are local leaders who are interested in strengthening Extension and targeting Extension programs to new and emerging issues. This input is instrumental in planning and conducting statewide Extension initiatives.

The purpose of the Tennessee Extension Advisory Council is to serve the Tennessee Extension System in the following roles:

  • Advise and counsel Extension administration regarding program direction and strategies.
  • Review, react to, and develop specific proposals regarding Extension programs and organization.
  • Promote Extension with current and potential clientele.
  • Assist in educating key decision makers and support groups about Extension.
  • Assist, when appropriate, in locating resources (human, financial, curriculum, and other resources) for Extension.

Operating Guidelines

Subcommittees

Printable PDF of Advisory Council Members

Advisory Council Members

Mr. John Bradley

Mr. John Bradley

County: Wayne
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2022-2024
Area: ANR

John Bradley is the fourth generation on his family Tennessee Century Farms in Hardin and Wayne counties. He has worked in education and agricultural research for over 40 years. John in his youth was very active in 4-H and FFA. He volunteered for the US Navy after high school graduation and served in Vietnam. He holds a BS degree from UT Martin in Animal Science and MS from UT Knoxville in Extension Education and an Ed.D in Higher Education Administration form University of Memphis.  

He worked as an Extension Agent for UT Extension for seven years and Director of the UT Milan Research and Extension Center for 14 years conducting No-Till research and directing the internationally known Milan No-Till Field Day. He worked for Monsanto as their Conservation Tillage Specialist in 17 states conducting no-till research and education focused on cotton. Bradley also served a Director of Research at Agricenter International, Memphis, TN. He recently retired as Director of Research at FBSciences and now sits on their scientific advisory board. John has consulted in over 14 foreign counties concerning conservation tillage. John is currently serving on the TN Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors. 

John and his wife, Debra, own and operate Spring Valley Farms, a 1,200 acre family cow-calf operation with customer direct beef sales. Their Facebook page, Spring Valley Family Farms, is updated daily with a different farm picture and a positive agriculture message for its 7,000 plus followers.  

Ms-Maria-Braun

Ms. Maria Braun

County: Bledsoe
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2022-2024
Area: ANR

I retired from the United States Air Force in January 2006 with 36 years of Military Service.  

Since 1998 I have lived in beautiful Bledsoe County where we own a farm and raise cattle. We are located at the very head of the Sequatchie Valley.  

I have served with the USDA as a minority adviser and currently serve as a County Committee Board member.  In 2011 I was recognized as Tennessee’s Small Farmer of the Year. 

I am also a member of the AG committee in Pikeville.  I am certified with the Master Beef and Master Gardener program from UT.  I am fluent in Spanish and have taught English as a second language in Bledsoe County. I am passionate in gardening and have a green house where I grow flowers and vegetable seedlings.  As a member of the Pikeville Garden Club we help beautify the downtown areas.  

I am married to Werner Braun and have a son Erich Braun. 

Ms. Brindy Charles

Ms. Brindy Charles

County: Madison
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2022-2024
Area: 4-H

Ms. Brindy Charles is an administrative assistant for the Jackson Madison County School System, where she has served the district for over 28 years. She is a native of Brinley, Arkansas, but resides in Jackson, Tennessee, with her husband, Reginald Charles. She first became aware of the 4-H program while working alongside the Madison County Extension After School Program. Since then, her daughter and have been active participants in the county, regional, and state programs. In addition, she serves the county by volunteering her time as the Madison County 4-H Parent and Adult Leader Association as the treasurer. One of her passions is event planning. She translates that passion through 4-H project group activities and events. Now that her grandchildren are old enough to participant in the 4-H program, she is making sure they receive the same experiences.  

Ms-Beth-Douthat

Ms. Beth Douthat

County: Greene
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2022-2024
Area: ANR

I am a 1992 graduate of the UTK Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department. I worked for 10 yrs as an Agricultural Engineer with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. My primary responsibility was designing animal waste management control systems in 23 counties of Upper East Tennessee. 
 
I met my late husband, Mark Douthat, UTK 1989, in 1994 and we married in 1995. We had four children, Luke (23), Sarah (21), Rebecca (20), and Jonathon (18). Mark and I ran the family farm, dairy and crops, until his death in 2014. We also had three Dairy Queen Franchises and a Pizza Inn Franchise. I currently still operate two DQ’s. One is in Bulls Gap, TN and the other is in Dobson, NC, about 3 hours from where I live. I no longer farm, but still continue to lease the land for crops and cattle production. 
 
Two years ago, our farm became home to one of the “Everywhere You Look… UT” murals. This was an exciting venture as the UT system has been an important part of my family. My father was also an agricultural engineer and received his degree in 1966 from UTK.

Mr. Jason Luckey

County: Madison
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2022-2024
Area: ANR

Jason Luckey, son of Mr. & Mrs. Rege Luckey, was born and raised in Humboldt, Tn on the family row crop and beef cattle operation. He graduated from Humboldt High School and The University of Tennessee at Martin with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. Upon graduation he returned to the farm where they raise corn, cotton, soybeans, winter wheat, and have a commercial beef cattle operation. He has been active in the Gibson County Farm Bureau, Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers where he served as Tennessee State President in 2004 and serving on the Tennessee Farm Bureau State Board of Directors as District 1 Insurance Director. He has also been involved with Farm Credit Service of Mid-America serving on the nominating committee as well as the advisory committee. He currently serves on the National Cotton Council as a producer delegate and Tennessee’s representative on the American Cotton Producers. Jason is married to Amy, and they are the parents to three children. They are active members at Humboldt First United Methodist Church. 

Mr-George-McDonald

Mr. George McDonald

County: Smith
Representing: Central Region
Term: 2022-2024
Area: ANR

Catesa Farms LLC was started at our present location by George McDonald’s Great Grandfather, George Bilbery, in 1927. George’s grandfather Carmen McDonald also farmed with George Bilbery until Bilbery’s retirement in 1958 at which time Sam McDonald, George’s father and Carmen farmed in partnership. After graduation from high school in 1978 George McDonald started farming full time in partnership with his father Sam in 1978. Following the death of George’s father, Sam in 1999 George has been sole proprietor of Catesa Farms LLC. George’s daughter, Sarah Owen, graduated from the University of Tennessee with a master’s degree in elementary education and a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Economics. After teaching 1st grade for 5 years, she then joined the farming operation in 2017, where she is office manager and the 5th generation to be part of Catesa Farms.  

The family farming operation has grown from the original 257 acres to today’s operation harvesting over 8,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, strawberries, and watermelons, in Davidson, Macon, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, and Wilson counties. In addition to Catesa Farms, Cumberland Valley Ag. is another entity utilized by the family to sell fertilizer and seed in addition to drying and storing corn, wheat, and soybeans. Cumberland Valley Ag is a dealer for Beck’s Hybrids and an agent for Soil Test Pro.  Catesa Farms has been using GPS and GIS technology for precision farming since 1996 utilizing this for grid soil sampling, variable rate control of fertilizer, lime, seeding, spraying, guidance, spraying and harvesting. The operation includes 7 full-time employees, 4 part time employees, 2 contract workers, and 15 seasonal workers, in addition to wife (Susan), mother (Linda) and daughter Sarah Owen. 

Ms-Shan-Williams-Stout

Ms. Shan Williams Stout

County: DeKalb
Representing: Central Region
Term: 2022-2024
Area: FCS

Shan Williams Stout began her career in publishing at the early age of nineteen years old. By the age of twenty-six, Stout had written or illustrated 13 books including the best-selling children’s book series, ‘Tales From a Duck Named Quacker’ for country music recording artist Ricky Van Shelton. Stout traveled the nation as a motivational speaker for over a decade focusing her message of positivity to elementary and middle school age children, along with sharing her amazing testimony as she was completely blind from birth, but later her sight was miraculously restored. In addition to public speaking, Stout promoted her book tours on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, along with numerous talk shows and radio interviews nationwide. This experience and exposure led her to release a learn to draw book for children, along with an international release of several books that were translated into multiple languages. Stout eventually decided to retire from publishing to start a family in the town where she was born – Smithville, Tennessee. Her vast experience in advertising and marketing later brought her the opportunity to work as the Director of Marketing for Saint Thomas (Ascension), along with the little rural hospital that had saved her life as a child, Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital, where she continues to serve in the community. Stout is a regular host on PBS, and is an advocate for the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA). Stout is passionate about working in the Upper Cumberland region while assisting local partners with projects including: ‘Masks of Love’ through FCS, UT Extension Chopped Challenge Cooking Competition, Walk Across Tennessee, The UT Extension Adult Cooking Competition, along with hosting Interview Boot Camps in local area schools to give kids an opportunity to ‘interview’ for various jobs in a real world setting. Stout is married to her husband Sam, and has three children: Emily, Drew and Charlie. In her spare time, she enjoys going to church, gardening, cooking and sewing. pi, and Tennessee.

Karen Bernard

Ms. Karen Bernard

County: Shelby
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2023-2025
Area: TSU FCS

Karen Bernard holds a bachelor degree in Dietetics from the University of Memphis. 
Ms. Bernard is the Food Program Coordinator at The Works, Inc. She also manages the
organization’s seasonal farmer’s market and kitchen programming such as the “Cooking
Matters” cooking classes that help facilitate lessons on nutrition and smart grocery shopping. 
She is motivated by the people within her community and enjoys providing free services and
opportunities to build skills that can lead towards health improvement. 
 
Because of her expertise and commitment to continuous improvement within her community.
Ms. Bernard leads the Advisory Committee of The South Memphis Farmers Market and is a
member of The Tennessee Clinical Translational Science Institute (TN-CTSI) Community
Advisory Board, UTHSC Community Advisory Board, UT-TSU Shelby County FCS Advisory Council
and the West Tennessee Diabetes Coalition.

Janice Del Valle

Ms. Janice Del Valle

County: Obion
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2023-2025
Area: UT 4-H

Janice Del Valle lives in Union City (Obion County) Tennessee, with her husband Marcos and her daughters Sarah (16) and Lindsey (13). She retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2014 after 20 years as an Arabic and German linguist. During her time in the military, she worked as a senior linguist, mission manager, language tutor/instructor, and intelligence instructor, as well as performing the role of mission training manager, unit deployment manager, and department finance manager. She has spent 20 years teaching and volunteering with children’s church programs as well as providing children’s activities at various military functions.

Since her retirement, Janice has been volunteering with Obion County 4-H programs, as well as being a member of the Crystal Family and Community Education (FCE) Club in Obion County and Tri-County Homemakers in Fulton, Kentucky.  She has volunteered with 4-H and FCE at the Obion County Fair and serves on the board of Obion County Fall Fest (2021-2023).

Janice has an AA in Intelligence Studies, a BA in Sociology, and an MA in Human Services Counseling. She is currently pursuing certification with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors through Second Baptist Church in Union City.

Kristen Walker

Ms. Kristen Walker

County: Maury
Representing: Central Region
Term: 2023-2025
Area: UT ANR

Kristen Walker currently serves as Associate Director of Public Policy at Tennessee Farm Bureau where she focuses on commodity issues and industry relations. TFBF has strong working relationships with commodity organizations and other industry partners and she leads the engagement between these partners to accomplish the organization’s policy. Prior to this role, Walker served as a Regional Field Director in 11 counties in East Tennessee for five years. In this role, she served as the liaison between county Farm Bureaus and the state organization.

Walker grew up on her family’s commercial cow/calf operation in Maryville, TN, and was active in many livestock programs through 4-H. She graduated from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2017 with a degree in Animal Science, where she was involved in the National Agrimarketing Association, Block and Bridle, and Sigma Alpha Agriculture Sorority.

Destiny Brown

Ms. Destiny Brown

County: Meigs
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: 4-H

Destiny Brown currently serves as a Senior Management Consultant for the State of Tennessee’s office of Customer Focused Government. In this role, she continues to live out the 4-H motto: “To make the best better.” As an active member of 4-H herself, Destiny found her passion for 4-H at a young age and credits her successes to the skills she learned during her time. Before transitioning into state government, Destiny was a TSU 4-H Agent in Meigs County, where she also received her Master of Science in Agricultural Leadership Education and Communication from the University of Tennessee. In her 4-H agent role, Destiny was able to work with students in many capacities, such as STEM Education, Life Skills, Leadership Development, and Civic Engagement, to name a few. As a master’s candidate, she worked on the curriculum in areas such as Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, Electric, and Dairy. Destiny’s desire to serve others spreads into multiple local, state, and national industries, and she is excited to serve on the UT Extension Advisory Council.

Brian Carroll

Mr. Brian Carroll

County: Weakley
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: FCS

Brian grew up in Pinckneyville, IL, and got his BS and MS in Dietetics from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. While there he worked in a research lab in the College of Agriculture for current UT Martin CAAS Dean Todd Winters. Ironically, it was he who recruited Brian to apply to UTM shortly after he arrived here from SIU 11 years ago, 2013.

He has worked as a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist in hospitals, long term care, weight loss clinics and dialysis clinics.

He is currently the Dietetic Internship Director at the University of Tennessee at Martin, serving in that capacity for 10 years. He also teaches Introduction to Nutrition, Lifespan Nutrition, Nutritional Biochemistry, Food Science and Sports Nutrition.

Brian served as President of the Tennessee Academy of Nutritionists and Dietitians (TAND) in 2019-2020 and has continued to serve on their Board of Directors in various capacities.

He was voted Nashville and Tennessee TAND Dietetic Educator of the Year (2016); served on the TAND Strategic Planning Committee and other positions. He is currently President Elect of the Western TN Academy of Nutritionists and Dietitians and served on the state Obesity Task Force in Nashville in 2021-2022, testifying at their hearing in 2022 in Nashville. In August of 2023 he was appointed to the Board of Dietitians/Nutritionists Examiners by Governor Lee.

Jennifer Chandler

Ms. Jennifer Chandler

County: Cheatham
Representing: Central Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: 4-H

Jennifer Chandler is an enthusiastic supporter of all things 4-H. With over 15 years of experience as an extension volunteer, Mrs. Chandler firmly believes in joyfully serving where needed. Whether helping direct a meeting for the county’s 4-H Homeschool Club or serving as a chaperone for Congress, Jennifer loves helping youth find their home in 4-H. When she’s not volunteering, Mrs. Chandler and her husband Chip manage two small businesses and the family farm where they live with 8 of their 11 children. They are expecting their 1st grandchild in May.  

Lisa Harville

Ms. Lisa Harville

County: Smith
Representing: Central Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: FCS

Dr. Lisa Kemp Harville is a pharmacist and co-owner of Smith County Drug Center in Carthage, TN. She is wife to Jason and mother to Grace (22) and Gabe (16). Lisa lives on her family’s Black Angus cattle farm in Pleasant Shade, TN. Her background is rich in agriculture, having worked in her younger years with her family in tobacco and dairy cattle. She is a former member of the Smith County Agricultural Committee where she served as Secretary. Lisa was a 4-H All Star herself and now volunteers with Smith County 4-H. Lisa is a member of the Smith County 4-H Advisory Committee, and she also serves as a Central Region representative on the 4-H VOLS State Committee. Lisa is a member of the Night Owls FCE club in Smith County where she serves as Vice President of the club. She is also the Smith County FCE County Council President. Lisa is a true advocate of Extension with a family legacy reaching back to 1919 when her great-grandmother, Virginia Milam Smith, served as the first Home Demonstration Agent in Macon County, TN. Lisa and Jason’s daughter, Grace, is currently a 4-H Extension Agent in Wilson County and their son, Gabe, serves on the Tennessee 4-H State Council as a Junior Representative.

Brian Stewart

Mr. Brian Stewart

County: Bradley
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: FCS

Brian Stewart is the Director of Workforce Development with City Fields, a local nonprofit in Cleveland, Tennessee that cultivates overlooked neighborhoods and people. He believes through partnerships and collaboration communities can be transformed and lives can be changed holistically.

Brian has spent the past 23 years working in the nonprofit field. Over the past 8 years, he has developed a workforce development program by creating partnerships with multiple nonprofit organizations, businesses, and state and local governments. The mission of the program is to provide a pathway to financial stability for the most overlooked people in the community by offering life skills and job readiness training. City Fields’ Workforce Development program has grown from offering one career track and serving approximately 50 people per year, to a program that now offers four career tracks and serves approximately 150-200 people per year. He has built a Workforce Development Advisory Board made up of community, business, government, and church leaders who have helped guide and build the program to where it is today.

Brian holds a degree in Economics and Business from Emory & Henry College and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Social Justice.

When Brian is not working with local partners to cultivate overlooked people, he can be found on the local hiking trails, reading, or playing with his three dogs.

Karen Smith

Ms. Karen Smith

County: Jefferson
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: 4-H

Karen Smith has worked as a music teacher and band director in Jefferson County Schools for over 26 years.  She is married to Jeffrey Smith and has three children, Callie (18), Ella (15) and Ainsley (14).  All three are very active 4-Hers.  She is a life-long resident of Jefferson County growing up on a cow calf operation.  Karen earned her bachelor of science degree in Music Education and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Carson-Newman University.  She later earned an Education Specialist degree in administration and supervision from Lincoln Memorial University. 

Karen is involved in 4-H on the county, regional, state and national level.  She is a the leader for the advanced sewing project group in Jefferson County and currently sits on the 4-H VOLS state committee.  She enjoys presenting clothing and textiles workshops at Fashion and Design Conference, TN Volunteer Jam and the Volunteer Conference of the Southern States at Rock Eagle. In 2023 she attended National 4-H Congress as part of the TN delegation.  She received the Governor’s Volunteer Star Award in 2021, the Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year Award and the Charline Hamilton Powell Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2023

In Karen’s own 4-H years she enjoyed attending TN 4-H Roundup and Congress.  She competed in history bowl and state fashion revue.  One of her favorite 4-H memories is being June Dairy Month Chairman in 1990 and 1991.  Today in her free time, Karen enjoys sewing, machine embroidery, quilting, gardening and spinning.

Ex-Officio Members

Dr. Thomas W. Broyles
State Program Leader
TSU Extension

Jamie Harris
Interim Director & State Program Leader 4-H
UT Extension

Dr. Rita Fleming
Interim State Program Leader
TSU Extension

Dr. Jason de Koff
State Program Leader
TSU Extension

Mr. Jerry Lamb
Regional Director
UT Extension

Dr. Chandra Reddy
Dean & Director of Research
TSU Extension

Dr. Ashley Stokes
Dean of Extension
UT Extension

Dr. John Toman
Interim Director of Extension Evaluation and Staff Development
UT Extension

Dr. Justin Rhinehart
Assistant Dean
UT Extension

Dr. Janet Fox
Assistant Dean
UT Extension

Ms. Brigitte Passman
Extension Agent & County Director
Tipton County

Dr. Latif Lighari
Associate Dean of Extension
TSU Extension