Orange County Extension Service (OCES) Faculty
Click on a link below for contact information
Duncan, LuAnn Family and Consumer Sciences
(Food Safety, Nutrition & Health, Human Development)
Felter, Liz Commercial Horticulture
Greer, Kelly Florida Yards and Neighborhoods
Kennington, Mary Sue Family and Consumer Sciences
(House & Home, Money Matters, Home & Community Education)
Leymaster, Keri Residential Horticutlure
Mudge, Dennis Agriculture
Pardo, Elver 4-H Youth Development
Petersen, Annie Family and Consumer Sciences
(Family Nutrition, Expanded Food & Nutrition)
Thralls, Ed Residential Horticulture & Master Gardener
Tyson, Richard County Extension Director and Agricuture
White, Celeste Commercial Landscape Management and Pest Control
County Extension Director - Agriculture
Orange County Extension Director, responsible for providing leadership and direction in the planning, organization, coordination, implementation and evaluation of the overall Extension program. This includes the program areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H and Youth Development, and Family and Consumer Sciences. He conducts programs on Commercial and Residential Horticulture issues.
Education - Ph.D., Univeristy of Florida,
M.S., University of Florida,
B.S., University of Florida.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
Click here to send email
Support Staff - Darla Wilkes, Administrative Assistant (407) 254-9200
Agriculture
Livestock, Animal Science, Agricultural Policy Education, Farm Assistance, Natural Resources, Water Quality and Quantity, Wildlife Enhancement and Nuisance, Toxic Plant and Venomous Animal Identification, Small Animal Husbandry.
Education - M.P.S. Animal Science/Agriculture - Cornell University, Ivy League,
B.S. - Natural Resources - Cornell University,
A.A.S. - Natural Resources - Morrisville College.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200 or (cell) (407) 466-3749
Click here to send email
Support Staff - Ruth Howard, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Family and Consumer Sciences
(House & Home, Money Matters, Home & Community Education)
Provides leadership for general education related to Housing and Home Environment with a focus on
efforts to empower individuals with knowledge about healthy indoor environments including
controlling mold growth in the home, water and energy conservation, home safety and disaster
preparedness, principles of universal design and lifecycle housing, keeping the home environment
clean, and living and building green. Teaches the Home Owner Post Purchase Counseling and Section
VIII Tenant workshops for the City of Orlando/Orange County Housing program participants.
Serves as agent advisor for the Orange County Association for Home and Community Education (HCE) --
an Extension volunteer organization dedicated to strengthening individuals and families through
education, leadership and action
Education - M.Ed., Community/Adult Education – Colorado State University,
B.S., Home Economics – Georgia Southern College.
Contact Information – (407) 254-9200
Click here to send email
Support Staff - Ruth Howard, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Family and Consumer Sciences
(Food Safety, Nutrition & Health, and Human Development)
Nutrition, Health, and Food Safety Agent. Serves as the Orange County Nutrition Agent providing education in the areas of food nutrition, wellness, and food safety. In service to the families and individuals of Orange County, workshops on healthy eating, meal planning, and prevention of illness due to proper nutrition are offered through out the year.
Acts as facilitator and test proctor for ServSafe Food Managers/Handlers Safety program. The program is designed to instruct food industry employees on proper food handling, serving, and storing. The training is to ensure that those working in the food industry practice preventative measures to reduce food-borne illness incidences.
Education - M.S., Home Economics Education - Ohio State University,
B.S., Home Economics Education – Ohio State University
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
Click here to send email
Support Staff - Ruth Stokes, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Family and Consumer Sciences
(Family Nutrition, Expanded Food & Nutrition)
Coordinates educational food and nutrition programs for food stamp recipients and food stamp eligible individuals and families in Orange County as the Food and Nutrition Program (FNP) Extension Agent.
Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the program, training and supervision of Program Assistants, and development of outreach and marketing tools to bring public awareness to the program.
Works in the community to build collaborative partnerships with agencies and community groups to plan and implement programming.
Education – B.S.H., Nutrition and Dietetics – University of North Florida
Contact Information - (407) 254-9212
Click here to send email
Support Staff - Ruth Stokes, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Residential Horticulture
Provides educational information to residents relating to landscaping design, planning, and maintenance of
home landscapes. Answers urban horticulture questions from Orange County residents. Teaches classes and workshops
using the principles of Florida-Friendly
Landscaping ™, including ornamental plants for the landscape, niche
and themed gardens, proper irrigation practices, adding color with annual flowers, and interior plants for the home.
Education - M.S. in Public Garden Administration - University of Delaware,
B.A. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry - University of Northern Iowa
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
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Support Staff - Frances Simoneaux, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Commercial Landscape Management and Pest Control
Provides education and training for the landscape maintenance industry and commercial pesticide applicators in the areas of planting, pruning, fertilization, irrigation and pesticide safety and use.
Education - B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Maryland.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
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Support Staff - Chris Weber, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Florida Yards and Neighborhoods
Provides education in Florida friendly landscaping, irrigation, pollution control, pesticide use, Integrated Pest Management, recycling, composting and resource conservation. Teaches educational and motivating workshops to Florida homeowners on creating and maintaining "Florida-friendly" yards that are attractive and almost carefree with "earth-smart" practices.
Education - M.A., Management and Leadership - Webster University
B.S., Agriculture - University of Missouri,
with a major in Horticulture.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
Click here to send email
Support Staff - Frances Simoneaux, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Residential Horticulture and Master Gardener
General education related to urban horticulture, including landscaping, home crop production, lawn management, ornamental landscape plants, indoor foliage and flowers and plant problem diagnosis. Coordinator for the Orange County Master Gardener Program. FNGLA Florida Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP). ASHS Associate Horticulture Professional (AHP).
Education - M.S., Systems Management - Naval Postgraduate School,
B.S., Landscape Nursery Management - University of Florida,
B.E., Electrical Engineering
- Vanderbilt University,
A.S., Environmental Horticulture - Valencia Community College.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
Click here to send email
Support Staff - Frances Simoneaux, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
4-H Youth Development
Works with youth and adult volunteers to develop and deliver programs based on needs in Orange
County. Works with the 4-H team to train volunteers and provide educational foundation
in the experiential learning model or “learn by doing” methodology.
Agent liaison for life skill development in the following project areas: animal science, agricultural
literacy, natural resource programs, environmental education, citizenship and leadership education,
workforce preparation and career development, and outreach programs.
Education - M.S., Education – Drury University (MO),
B.A., Psychology - Universidad Santo Tomas in Bogotá Colombia
Contact Information - (407) 254-9205
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Support Staff - Sue Sweetland, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Commercial Horticulture
Provides education and training for the Commercial Nursery and Greenhouse industry in Orange county.
Co-ordinates the diagnostic plant clinic at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center and the Production Times Newsletter.
Collaborates with other Commercial Horticulture Agents throughout the state to provide accurate and recent information to clients.
Education - M.A. Agricultural & Extension Education, University of Florida
B.S. Horticulture/Agriculture Communications, The Ohio State University
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
Click here to send email
Support Staff - Chris Weber, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
4-H Youth Development 
