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Francis
X. Higdon
EDUCATION
Ph.D Public and International Affairs (Economic and Social Development), Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, (December 1997) M.S. Rural Sociology (Community Economic Development), Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Pennsylvania State University, (December 1990). B.S. Agronomy (Soil Science), Department of Agronomy, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, (June 1983).
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Senior Lecturer in Community Development, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park. (2000-present) Design and deliver graduate level web-based courses in support of the Community and Economic Development Certificate Program (Penn State World Campus). Assist Program Coordinator and World Campus Program Team in efforts to develop and market an international focus to the program. Teaching assignments include courses on economic development planning, community systems, demographic analysis and leadership development. Position requires active progress in establishing a funded research program focused on international extension education efforts in Central Europe, telecommunications and distance education efforts in Pennsylvania. County Extension Director / Community Development Agent, Penn State Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, Milford / Hollidaysburg, PA. (1997-2000) Directed eight professional staff in planning and implementing a county-wide educational program aimed at adult learners and youth organizations. Served as executive responsible for volunteer management, staff development and program evaluation in county extension office. Planned and implemented informal adult education programs within a three county area. Program specialties included nonprofit organizational development, municipal planning, business enterprise development and youth gardening. Developed organizational relationships with local, state and federal agencies to deliver joint educational programs for county residents. Visiting Scholar and Field Researcher, University College of Belize-International Institute of Education, Belize, Central America. (1994-1995) Designed and carried out a farm strategy research project in Belize with a Fulbright Dissertation Research Fellowship. Conducted field research on household-level agricultural strategies using qualitative techniques and a community-wide survey of farm producers. Developed extensive contacts within the Mennonite and Belizean communities in support of research program. Presented research results in a lecture series at the University College of Belize. Volunteer Recruiter/Office Manager, University Center for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. 15260. (1992-1994) Planned and managed an international recruitment program for Peace Corps in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Made public presentations, held recruiting events, and initiated media coverage to increase public awareness. Responsible for counseling, interviewing, screening and placement of local volunteers. Received periodic training in human resource management. Economic Development Associate, Community Economic Development Associates Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 16802. (1990-1991) Implemented a small business outreach program in a distressed community outside Pittsburgh. Initiated a Business Contact Program with small business owners and managers to assess business needs. Provided direct assistance to entrepreneurs in determining eligibility for loans and employment training programs. Established a Small Business Resource Center at local library to assist minority business community. Research Agronomist, Foreign Crop Condition Assessment Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, Washington, D.C. 20250. (1987-1988) Estimated agricultural production for European and Middle Eastern nations using remote sensing data and on-site attaché reports. Maintained a database of past and current crop conditions in order to estimate corn, cotton and wheat crops in various nations. Interacted with multiple staff in the preparation of written and oral reports to the USDA World Agricultural Board. Agricultural Development Specialist, U.S. Peace Corps, Ministry of Agriculture, Davao del Sur, Philippines. (1983-1985) Conducted community outreach, on-farm research and education programs with local farming groups and managed local agro-forestry, fertilizer production, and fresh water fishery projects in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture Staff. Cooperated with Agronomy staff at Benguet State University on an agro-forestry field experiment to investigate alternative planting materials. RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
World Campus Faculty (Community Development), Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. (2000-present). Adjunct Assistant Professor (International Management, Political Science and Economics), Department of Continuing Education, St. Francis University, Loretto, PA. (1999-present). Research Associate, (Housing Research), Urban Planning Program/GSPIA, University of Pittsburgh. (1995-1996). Research Associate, (Nonprofit Evaluation Research), University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh. (1993). Evaluation Consultant, (Job Training Program Evaluation), Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA. (1993). Research Assistant, (Housing Construction Research), Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, (1991-1992). Teaching Assistant, (U.S. Public Policy), School of Urban and Public Affairs, Summer Studies Program, Carnegie-Mellon University, (1991). Research Assistant, (Community Economic Development), Department of
Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Pennsylvania State
University, (1988-1990). PUBLISHED PAPERSHyman,
Drew W., Higdon, Francis X. and Kenneth E. Martin. 2001. “Reevaluating Community Power Structures in Modern Communities”
Journal of the Community Development Society, Vol. 32, no. 2. Winter 2001. Hyman, D. W., J. McKnight and Francis X. Higdon. 2001. Doing Democracy: Conflict and Consensus Strategies for Citizens, Organizations and Communities. Erudition Press: MA. (ISBN: 1-58692-237-8) Higdon, Francis X. 2001. “Family Farms, Adaptation and Change Among Mennonites in Western Belize.” Mennonite Family History, v.20, no. 1, January 2001, pg. 25-28. Higdon, Francis X. 1997. Farm Diversification and Specialization: the Adaptation of Mennonite Households on the Belizean Frontier. (Doctoral Dissertation) Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. (December 1997). Entrepreneurship in Community Settings: A Multi-disciplinary Pilot Study of Entrepreneurial Characteristics. (M.S. Thesis) Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Penn State University, University Park, PA. (December 1990). CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Building a University-Based Public-Private Partnership for Local Community and Economic Development: the CEDAP Project. (Co-author: Dr. Drew W. Hyman; Penn State University) Proceedings of the Australia-United States Conference on "Strengthening Postsecondary Education's Contribution to Economic Development". (June 9-11, 1997). Household Production Strategies on the Belizean Frontier. (Co-author: Dr. Sara E. Alexander; Baylor University) Proceedings of the 1997 Annual Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, (March 1997). Mennonite Settlement and Agricultural Development in Belize. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Association of Third World Studies. Jacksonville, FL. (October 1995). Comparison of Energy Use in Conventional and Low Input Reduced Cropping Systems. (Anna M. Vargas, R.R. Janke, W.N. Musser, M.D. Shaw, J.D. Hamlett, S.E. Peters and F.X. Higdon) In Proceedings of the Northeastern Branch-American Society of Agronomy, Burlington, VT. (June 25-28, 1989). PAPERS AND PROGRAM EVALUATIONS
Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (SPIRC). In Greater Pittsburgh Revitalization Initiative: Evaluation and Final Report, (with E. Ricci, V. Singh, R. Albrandt, S. Manners, J. Trauth, J. Nesbitt, B. Onque, D. Keren, and D. Musa), University Center for Social and Urban Research/Graduate School of Public Health/Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. (March 1994). Mon Valley Initiative. In Greater Pittsburgh Revitalization Initiative: Evaluation and Final Report, (with E. Ricci, V. Singh, R. Albrandt, S. Manners, J. Trauth, J. Nesbitt, B. Onque, D. Keren, and D. Musa), University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh. (March 1994). JOBLINKS Program Evaluation. Contract Evaluation Report prepared in cooperation with the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development for Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA. 15250. (September 1993). An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Literature on Reduced Tillage and Related Low Input Production Practices of Relevance for Pennsylvania. (Francis X. Higdon, Ronda R. Janke and Wesley N. Musser). Departmental Staff Paper #207, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Pennsylvania State University. (September 1989). BOOK REVIEWS
Rural Change in Ireland, by John Davis (ed.) Journal of the Community Development Society, vol. 31, no. 1, 2000. Health in Rural Settings: Context for Action, by William Ramp, J. Kulig, I. Townsend, and V. McGowan (eds.) Journal of the Community Development Society, vol. 31, no. 1, 2000. Government and Agriculture in Zimbabwe, by William Masters. Journal of Third World Studies, (Fall 1996). The Peri-Urban Interface: A Tale of Two Cities, by Robert Brook and Julio Davila (eds.) Journal of the Community Development Society, vol. 32, no. 1, 2001. pgs. 193-5. EXTENSION PROGRAMS4-H Youth Gardening (1999-2000) Developed a county-wide youth gardening program with EFNEP staff and 4-H summer assistants. Program focused on creating summer youth gardening groups in urban neighborhoods. Organizational Development for Non-profits (1997-99) Organized and facilitated workshops on strategic planning, grantwriting, fundraising and board development for directors and volunteers. Workshops focused on practical skills and group work. Dairy Business Expansion and Retention (1998-2000) Chaired a committee of Extension educators, industry representatives and dairy farmers that planned and delivered two regional conferences on dairy farm expansion and retention. Alternative Agricultural Enterprises (1997-98) Designed and implemented multi-county workshops aimed at landowners and small farmers to raise awareness of small-scale food production, processing, marketing and agri-tourism. Growth Management for Municipal Officials (1997-98) Organized and taught sections of a workshop aimed at local municipal officials. The workshop made connections between growth, local economy, taxes, land use planning and local services. Land Use Planning (1997-98) Conducted community surveys of resident views of land use planning and organized public meetings on history, legal basis and administration of zoning ordinances in local communities. Water Quality and Watershed Protection (1997-98) Conducted needs assessments and presented over a dozen municipal water quality meetings for local officials and citizens on well-head protection, alternative septic systems and water testing. CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION Keystone Leadership Forum: Enhancing Leadership Development in the 21st Century. June 21-22, 2001. Facilitated Workshop: Leading Communities Toward Sustainable Land Use. Statewide Inservice for Community and Economic Development. February 2001. Penn Stater Conference Center. Workshop Presentation: Essentials of Organizational Leadership. World Campus Convocation: Penn Stater Conference Center. November 15, 2000. Internet-based Poster Session: Community and Economic Development Certificate Program. (co-presenter: Dr. Drew Hyman, Program Coordinator) Extension Education in Amish and other Anabaptist Communities: A Conference for Extension Educators, April 21-24, 1998. Held in Shipshewana, IN. Paper presentation: Farm Survival and Specialization: The Adaptation of Mennonite Households on the Belizean Frontier. Australia-United States Conference on "Strengthening Postsecondary Education's Contribution to Economic Development", June 9-11, 1997. Paper presentation: "Building a University-Based Public-Private Partnership for Local Community and Economic Development: the CEDAP Project." (Co-author: Dr. Drew W. Hyman, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Penn State University). Annual Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, March 9-10, 1997. Held in Seattle, Washington. Paper Presentation: "Household Production Strategies on the Belizean Frontier." (Co-author: Dr. Sara E. Alexander, Departments of Environmental Studies and Anthropology, Baylor University). Caribbean Association of Professionals and Scholars, 10th Annual Conference on "Enriching the Caribbean-American Experience", June 7-8, 1996. Paper presentation: "Household Adaptation among Mennonite settlers in Western Belize". 1996 Fulbright Foreign Student Seminar on "Diversity in a Changing Urban Environment". April 11-14, 1996. Sponsored by the United States Information Agency and the Institute of International Education. One of ten American Fulbright alumni invited to conference. Graduate Student Conference on Social and Public Policy, February 23, 1996. Center for Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh. Paper presentation: "Agricultural Adaptation and Household Decision-making Among Mennonite Farmers in Belize, Central America." Association of Third World Studies Conference, October 12-14, 1995. University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Fla. Paper presentation: "Mennonite Settlement and Agricultural Development in Belize." International Intentional Communities Conference, August 23-26, 1993. Evergreen State University, Olympia, WA. Paper presentation: "Communitarianism: The Politics of Intentional Community." Great Lakes Economic Development Conference, May 15-17, 1991. Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, PA. Administrative assistant and participant in roundtable discussions. HONORS AND AWARDSBREI Certified Master Consultant (Community Business Survey), Business Retention and Expansion International, Certification #334, (1999-2001) Fulbright Dissertation Research Grant, (Belize), Institute for International Education, New York, New York. September 1994 to September 1995. Doctoral Travel Awards, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Graduate Professional Student Association, University of Pittsburgh, August 1993 and October 1995. Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture-Penn State Chapter, Pennsylvania State University, November 1991. ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
State Program Leader Search Committee (Community and Economic Development), College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State University. (1998-2000) Community Impact Model Advisory Committee (CIM-PSU Project / Center for Rural Pennsylvania), Harrisburg, PA. (1997-1998) Habitat for Humanity of Wayne County. Certificate of Appreciation for Volunteer Service, Presented at 1997 Volunteer Dinner, Honesdale, PA. East End Food Cooperative Federal Credit Union, Supervisory Committee and Organizing Committee, Pittsburgh, PA. (1992-1994). Pittsburgh Area Returned Peace Corps Association, Board Secretary and Development Education Committee, Pittsburgh, PA. (1992-1995). Basic Economic Development Course, (40 hours of lecture and discussion / 4.0 C.E.U's), Penn State Continuing Education Program at Penn State-Harrisburg. December 1990. Community and Economic Development Applications Training Program, (96 hours of instruction and applications), Penn State College of Agriculture. June 1990. PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Dr. Drew W.
Hyman, Professor Dr. Bill
DeWalt, Director Michael G.
McDavid, Regional Director John
Eichelberger, Blair County Commissioner |