Orange County Extension Service (OCES) Faculty
Click on a link below for contact information
Felter, Liz Environmental Horticulture
Gonzalez, Barbara Sr. Neighborhood Coordinator Union
Park Neighborhood Center for Families
Harris, Rebecca 4-H and Youth Development
Kennington, Mary Sue Family and Consumer Sciences
Mondelus, Cyndy Family and Consumer Sciences
Mudge, Dennis Agriculture
Negrón, Grisel Multi County Expanded Food & Nutrition
(EFNEP) Program
Parker, Lelan Multi-County Commercial Nursery Production
Pehlke, Timothy 4-H and Youth Development
Ramos, Jennifer Florida Yards and Neighborhoods
Program
Thralls, Ed Residential Horticulture & Master Gardener
Program
White, Celeste Interim County Extension Director
and Commerical Horticulture
Agriculture Agent
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
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Support Staff - Ruth Howard, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
4H Agent and 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: Agricultural literacy,
Animal Science Education, Environmental Education, Plant Sciences, Clothing & Textiles, Consumer
Education, Media/Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Leisure Arts, Geospatial and Computer Technology.
Education - M.A., Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University,
B.A., Anthropology; B.A. Classics, University of Florida,
ABD, Environmental Dynamics, University of Arkansas
Contact Information - (407) 254-9205
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Support Staff - Ruth Stokes, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Multi-County Commercial Horticulture
Provides education and training for the Commercial Greenhouse and Nursery industries for Orange, Lake and Seminole counties.
Assists with the 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 throughout the tri-county area.
Education - M.S. Plant Science/Viticulture-Biotechnology, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University,
B.S. Plant Science, Southern University & Mechanical College.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
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Support Staff - Yamira Donato, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Family and Consumer Sciences
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
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Support Staff – Daisy Krzanik, Admin. Specialist, (407) 254-9200
Family and Consumer Sciences
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.
Provides youth workshops geared toward helping youth make healthy snack and meal choices to prevent overweight and/or obesity. Supervisor of Orange County Family Nutrition Program with the help of program assistant Deborah Freeman. Supervises the dissemination of nutrition education to children of schools with above average free/ reduced lunch recipients.
Acts as facilitator and test proctor for ServSafe Food Managers/Handlers Safety program. The program is designed to instruct food industry laborers on proper food handling, serving, and storing. The training is to ensure that laborers working in the food industry practice preventative measures to reduce food-borne illness incidences.
Education - M.S., International and Community Nutrition - Virginia Tech,
B.S., Human Nutrition, Food and Exercises – Virginia Tech.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
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Support Staff - Ruth Howard, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Interim County Extension Director - Commercial Horticulture
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 - Yamira Donato, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program Assistant
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 - B.S., Environmental Science and Growth Management - Rollins College,
with an emphasis in Florida Ecology and water systems.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
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Multi-County Expanded Food & Nutrition Program (EFNEP)
As a Multi County Agent for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties she coordinates and oversees the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). EFNEP in Orange County helps families and adults with young children have a healthier diet, promoting healthier choices, fitness, skills on food safety and maximizing family food budget and resources.
She trains and supervises paraprofessionals teaching adults food and nutrition information. Develops outreach and marketing tools to bring public awareness about the program. Builds on collaborative partnerships with agencies and community groups to plan and implement programs.
Education - M.P.H, Social and Behavioral Sciences – Boston University,
M.A., Counseling and Psychology – Lesley University (formerly Lesley College),
B.A., Elementary Education – University of Puerto Rico.
Contact Information - (407) 254-9200
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Support Staff - Ruth Howard, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Residential Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator
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
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Support Staff - Frances Simoneaux, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
4-H Youth Development
Responsible for providing leadership to the Orange County 4-H program in conjunction with 4-H staff. Recruits, trains, and supervises adult volunteers. Provides informal educational programs for a youth audience. Collaborates with other agencies and community groups to plan and implement youth programming. Conducts promotional efforts aimed at increasing public awareness of youth development programming. Agent liaison for life skill development in the following areas: Family and Consumer Sciences, Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Communication Arts/ Sciences, Citizenship/ Leadership Education, Science and Technology, and Workforce Preparation/ Career Development.
Education - M.P.A., Nonprofit Management – University of Missouri,
M.S., Family and Child Studies – Miami University (OH),
B.A., Psychology- Greenville College (IL)
Contact Information - (407) 254-9213
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Support Staff - Ruth Stokes, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Residential Horticulture Agent
Provide horticultural programs and information to citizens of Orange County in the areas of landscaping, best management practices, lawn management, ornamental landscape plants, indoor foliage and flowers and plant problems. Also coordinate the installation and implementation of educational programs in the Demonstration Garden.
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 - Frances Simoneaux, Admin. Specialist (407) 254-9200
Sr. Neighborhood Coordinator
Union Park Neighborhood Center for Families
This Neighborhood Center Coordinator position is a grant funded staff position with Cooperative Extension through the Orange County Citizens’ Commission for Children.
Provides leadership for operational oversight and coordination of the Union Park Neighborhood Center for Families (UPNCF), including supervision and training of funded personnel by the Orange County Citizens’ Commission for Children. Maintains Agency staff schedules and other administrative tasks. Coordinates Union Park NCF marketing efforts and NCF events.
Monitors and evaluates NCF progress toward contract outcomes and coordinates NCF case staffing and case management. Liaison between citizens, NCF stakeholders (internal and external) including member agencies and key community leaders.
Education - B.A., Psychology and Sociology – Florida International University
Contact Information - (407) 207-1684 ; (407) 482-4486 (fax)
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Support Staff - Michelle Abisada, Admin. Assistant (407) 207-1684
4-H Youth Development 