Harriett Edwards, EdD
Bio
Harriett Edwards, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University, providing leadership for volunteerism in the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service which annually engages more than 40,000 youth and adult volunteers. Harriett’s first-of-its-kind dissertation research investigated critical aspects of effectively engaging episodic volunteers in community-based youth programs. She was inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement in 2008. Dr. Edwards teaches graduate courses in volunteer management.
She has previously served as President of the N.C. Association of Volunteer Administration, and as President of the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE). Harriett also serves as the Extension Military Liaison for North Carolina, and has worked with the Department of Defense, the National Military Family Association and private funders to bring more than $14 Million to North Carolina in support of military children and their families.
Dr. Edwards has presented at numerous national and international conferences, including the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the International Conference on Volunteer Administration, the Association for Research in Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Agencies (ARNOVA), and the European Seminar on Extension Education. Harriett teaches graduate level courses in volunteer management at North Carolina State University, and has also served as adjunct faculty at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. Her work also includes the development of a “Basics in Volunteer Management” training to certify experienced volunteer administrators to teach “Basics in Volunteer Management” classes through North Carolina Community Colleges.
Programs and Initiatives
- 4-H Military Partnership
- NC State Extension Advisory Leadership System
- Operation Homeport
Primary Teaching Responsibilities
- AEHS 557: Volunteer Development and Management
- AEHS 558: Contemporary Issues in Volunteer Engagement
Contributing Websites
Selected Publications
- Jeuck, L. S., Jayaratne, K. S., Stumpf-Downing, M., Edwards, H., & McKee, K. (2023). Critical Competencies of 4-H Camp Staff for Achieving High Performance. The Journal of Extension, 61(2), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.61.02.07
- Green, B., Bruce, J., McKee, K.E., Morgan-Fleming, J. & Edwards, H. (2022). Strategies for Diversity & Inclusion: A Case Study of Faculty Decision Making. NACTA Journal, 66.
- Donaldson, J. L., Warner, W., Bruce, J., Morgan, J., Edwards, H. C., & Vaughan, R. (2022). Aligning instruction with extension professional competencies for an enhanced undergraduate extension education minor. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 10(3), 12. https://doi.org/10.55533/2325-5226.1437
- Bloom, J., Yao, J., & Edwards, H. (2021). Lessons Learned from the Development of the North Carolina Extension Master Food Volunteer Program. The Journal of Extension, 59(3), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.59.03.02
- Glen, C. D., Jayaratne, K., Moore, G. E., Bradley, L. K., & Edwards, H. (2021). What Does It Take to Lead Extension Master Gardener Volunteers?. The Journal of Extension, 59(3), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.59.03.12
- Silliman, B., Edwards, H. C., & Johnson, J. C. (2020). Long-term effects of youth work internship: The Project Youth Extension Service approach. Children and Youth Services Review, 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105436
- Silliman, B., Edwards, H. C., & Johnson, J. C. (2020). Preparing Capable Youth Workers: The Project Youth Extension Service Approach. Journal of Youth Development, 15(1), 122–149. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2020.824
- Culp, K., Edwards, H. C., & Jordan, J. W. (2014). Creating the Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Advisory Group. The Journal of Extension, 52(6), Article 31. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol52/iss6/31
- Edwards, H.C. (2012). Orientation: Welcoming new volunteers into the organization. In T.D. Connors (Ed.), The volunteer management handbook (2nd ed., pp. 31–53). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Edwards, H.C., Safrit, R.D. & Allen, K. (2012). Volunteer demographics. In T.D. Connors (Ed.), The volunteer management handbook (2nd., pp. 227-236). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Education
BA English Communications Campbell University
MPA Public Administration and Human Resources NC State University
EdD Adult and Community College Education NC State University
Area(s) of Expertise
- Volunteer Engagement
- Boards and Councils
- Extension Military Programs
- Adult Education
Grants
The purpose of the CYFAR 4-H Military Partnership Professional Development and Technical Assistance Program is to support the implementation and capacity of the 4-H Military Partnership and Outreach Support Program. Professional development and technical assistance are provided to the land-grant institutions and Cooperative Extension System, so that, in collaboration with other organizations, they are able to develop and deliver educational programs for military-connected youth. The educational programs are to equip military-connected youth in resiliency skills they need to lead positive, productive, and contributing lives. Military-connected youth are inherently at risk from a variety of factors that include: multiple and lengthy deployments by family members, relocation of the family, single partner households, lower income, and family members either not returning home or returning home wounded.
The 4-H/Navy Military Partnership project supports the provision of staff development and technical assistance to Naval installations globally to ensure the availability of 4-H youth development programming at all installations. These efforts are spearheaded by an experienced 4-H Youth Development Specialist who engages internal and external resources in supporting efforts toward positive youth development.
Project Youth Extension Service (YES) is a national internship program that engages 25-50 college students motivated to serve the needs of National Guard and Reserve Component (RC) military families during all phases of deployment. Approximately 25-50 college interns receive extensive youth development educational and facilitation skills. In turn, they travel to RC events to deliver youth programs in support of Department of Defense Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program sessions. Project YES provides participating interns direct, experiential opportunities to strengthen their professional knowledge and skills while also meeting the needs of military families impacted by deployment related absences.
The purpose of the CYFAR 4-H Military Partnership Professional Development and Technical Assistance Program is to support the implementation and capacity of the 4-H Military Partnership and Outreach Support Program. Professional development and technical assistance are provided to the land-grant institutions and Cooperative Extension System, so that, in collaboration with other organizations, they are able to develop and deliver educational programs for military-connected youth. The educational programs are to equip military-connected youth in resiliency skills they need to lead positive, productive, and contributing lives. Military-connected youth are inherently at risk from a variety of factors that include: multiple and lengthy deployments by family members, relocation of the family, single partner households, lower income, and family members either not returning home or returning home wounded.
Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP) provide high quality educational and recreational programs for military and Department of Defense (DoD) children and youth ages 6 weeks to 17 years. Navy CYP������������������s system of care serves 200,000 military children and youth each year via our network of 238 child development and youth program facilities worldwide. Teams of caring, knowledgeable Navy CYP professionals plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs that are responsive to the unique needs, abilities and interests of children and youth. Our professionals foster a sense of independence, trust and responsibility within each child and youth through understanding and respectful interactions. Through positive relationships, our programs respect and support the ideals, cultures and values of families in their task of nurturing children and youth. Navy CYPs are advocates for children, youth, families, and the CYP professionals within our programs and surrounding communities. Some of the CYP curriculum goals are to build physical development and skills, promote social competence and positive relations with others, and advance creative expression, representation, and appreciation for the arts. In additional to Navy CYP professionals, contract personnel are required to ensure that the Navy CYP mission is fulfilled.
The 4-H/Air Force Partnership Project supports the full time Air Force Youth Development Specialist who works to ensure that 4-H club work and positive youth development training are provided to installations for military dependents globally. This position includes serving on multiple national and regional committees as well as scheduling and conducting training, in both face-to-face and virtual environments, to ensure that direct care delivery staff members have resources and skills to deliver 4-H youth development programming effectively
The 4-H National Mentoring Program mission is to assist in the further development and maturity of community programs serving at risk, high risk, or underserved youth populations. Overarching program goals are to improve outcomes for at-risk-high-risk, or underserved youth and reduce negative outcomes, including juvenile delinquency and gang participation, improve academic performance, and reduce school drop-out rates through mentoring. The program implements enhanced practices that enrich positive outcomes and further aligns with research and evidence on effective mentoring. The objective of the program is to direct one-on-one, group (up to but not to exceed 4 youth to one mentor, peer (age 15 or older) , or a combination of these types of mentoring services, to underserved youth populations for 12 consecutive months.
The NC 4-H/Air Force Military Partnerships Grant provides funding to support one youth development specialist on staff at NCSU who focuses specifically on working with child and youth programs on Air Force installations worldwide. The work of this individual ensures that 4-H curricula are available and that staff members are adequately trained and prepared to use that curricula with military dependents.
4-H, in partnership with the armed services, has committed efforts to the establishment of 4-H clubs on installations worldwide. This is an effort to ensure the military-connected children and youth may participate fully in 4-H Positive Youth Development activities regardless of their geographic location. Through the partnership funding, support is provided to State 4-H Extension programs to establish and sustain clubs, and to work toward integrating military youth and their families into existing 4-H programs.
Project Youth Extension Service (Project YES) is a collegiate program that engages approximately 25-50 young people from selected universities, supported by Extension, military or college professionals to deliver leadership and educational program for youth of military families. College students with 4-H, CES, or military family backgrounds have the potential to strengthen their knowledge, skills and potential to meet the needs of young people in communities with significant military presence and military families impacted by military-related absences or deployments.