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.
Advisory Council Members
View the 2025 Tennessee Extension Advisory Council PDF
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.
Ms. Johnna Burton
County: Haywood
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2023-2025
Area: UT FCS
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.
Mr. John Walker
County: Blount
Representing: Easternl Region
Term: 2023-2025
Area: UT ANR
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.
Ms. Destiny Brown
County: Meigs
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: UT 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.
Mr. Brian Carroll
County: Weakley
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: UT 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.
Ms. Jennifer Chandler
County: Cheatham
Representing: Central Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: UT 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.
Ms. Lisa Harville
County: Smith
Representing: Central Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: UT 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.
Ms. Melanie Murby
County: McNairy
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: UT 4-H
Ms. Karen Smith
County: Jefferson
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: UT 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.
Ms. Margaret Snyder
County: Jefferson
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: TSU ANR
Mr. Brian Stewart
County: Bradley
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2024-2026
Area: UT 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.
Ms. Patricia Bieder
County: Coffee
Representing: Central Region
Term: 2026 – 2028
Area: TSU FCS
Mr. Mark Cancia
County: Madison
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2026-2028
Area: TSU 4-H
Mr. Jalin Curry
County: Madison
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2026-2028
Area: TSU 4-H
Ms. Rachael Ellis
County: Knox
Representing: Eastern Region
Term: 2026-2028
Area: UT ANR
Mr. Michael Gay
County: Haywood
Representing: Western Region
Term: 2026-2028
Area: UT ANR
Ex-Officio Members
Dr. Thomas W. Broyles
State Program Leader
TSU Extension
Jamie Harris
Interim Director
UT Extension
Dr. Rita Fleming
Interim State Program Leader
TSU Extension
Dr. Jason de Koff
State Program Leader
TSU Extension
Ms. Kelli Roberson
Eastern Region Director
UT Extension
Dr. Chandra Reddy
Dean & Director of Research
TSU Extension
Dr. Justin Rhinehart
Interim Dean/Assistant Dean
UT Extension
Dr. Janet Fox
Assistant Dean
UT Extension
Dr. Latif Lighari
Associate Dean of Extension
TSU Extension