Since 1989, Dr. Walla has been at the University of Kentucky serving as the Associate Dean in the College of Agriculture and the Associate Director of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Prior to coming to Kentucky, Walla worked as a county Extension agent, an Extension plant pathologist and a state level administrator in the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

It is noteworthy to report that at the national level he has been successful in providing leadership for securing an increase in Extension base funding in 1998. As Chair of ECOP he worked to secure passage of the Agriculture Research, Extension, Education Reform Act of 1998. He was personally invited by the President to attend the official signing of the bill in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D. C. The initiative for future agriculture and food systems included in the bill calls for $120,000,000 of new monies for the land-grant system.

In Kentucky, Walla has led the efforts to secure funding on state and county levels resulting in the most county Extension agent positions in its history. At this time Kentucky leads the nation in the number of county Extension agents per capita. Dr. Walla has proven his level of commitment to Extension by ensuring that the strongest link to Extension is at the "grassroots". Kentucky has a strong Extension Council System, that allows user groups direct input into local and statewide issues resulting in exceptional clientele support. He has worked to increase diversity among the workforce and his support of electronic technology puts Kentucky at the "cutting edge" for delivery of knowledge based Extension educational programs.

He holds M. S. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology from Texas A & M University and a B. S. in Agricultural Education from Stephen F. Austin State University .

Ruby Award Luncheon: December 3, 1999

Just press on the (highlighted and underlined) title to review the contents of the speech.
"The Art and Science of Building Bridges"