Jay Gogue, Interim President of the NMSU System | Official Website
Jay Gogue, Interim President of the NMSU System | Official Website
New Mexico State University's Allen Malone, the associate director of the Cooperative Extension Service, was recognized at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. He was among 27 fellows honored for completing the Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI) executive leadership development program.
Malone shared his experience with FSLI, stating, “The Food Systems Leadership Institute is a life changing experience that transforms individuals into the future leaders of the agricultural industry.” He emphasized how it helped him understand organizational dynamics and build self-confidence.
Rolando Flores, Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, expressed satisfaction with Malone's completion of the program. "CES is as strong an organization as its leadership is," he said. Flores highlighted the importance of training and advancing leadership within their college to benefit students and stakeholders.
The FSLI program spans two years and targets experienced leaders from academia, government, and industry. It includes residential sessions, coaching, mentoring, and personal projects. Jon Boren, associate dean and Cooperative Extension Service director at the College of ACES, congratulated Malone on his graduation from FSLI. Boren noted that Malone's leadership project involved conducting a needs assessment for the Cooperative Extension Service.
Malone appreciated one aspect of FSLI: "One of the strongest components of the program is its introspective look into each individual leader." He valued participating in 360-degree assessments to gain insight into his leadership style compared to others'.
Before joining NMSU in June 2023, Malone worked with Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems and Texas AgriLife Extension Service. He holds a doctorate in agricultural education from Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University and degrees in agricultural economics from Prairie View A&M University.
Malone remarked on FSLI’s offerings: “FSLI offers many insightful tools and trainings to help grow our next generation of leaders,” mentioning sessions on strategic thinking, planning, communication skills, and network building.