Dictson Appointed to State Extension Post

Date:  June 26, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford  (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES -- Billy Dictson, district department head for New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service, was promoted June 26 to interim associate dean and deputy director of the organization.

Dictson will administer more than 100 Extension faculty plus staff in state offices and in all 33 New Mexico counties. Extension also is the program that administers 4-H statewide.

Dictson will report to Jerry Schickedanz, interim dean and chief administrative officer of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics. Schickedanz vacated the associate dean post on June 19 after John Owens left the college's chief post to assume the interim executive vice presidency at NMSU.

Dictson administered Extension programs in 11 eastern New Mexico counties since June 1988. He joined Extension as an agent in Quay County in 1965, moving to Curry County three years later. He was appointed director of the Curry County program in 1976.

Dictson served as vice president, president-elect and president of the National County Agricultural Agents Association from 1983 to 1986. Born on a farm near Portales, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural and Extension education from NMSU.

"Billy is a model Extension professional who is well known across the state for his excellent leadership," Schickedanz said. "He lives and breathes the Extension philosophy."