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                    Pierce County Office Staff

Olga Fusté is the Chair of the Pierce County Cooperative Extension office and Director of the Salishan Learning Center and is reponsible for program development and coordination of credit/non-credit classes. Olga also is responsible for food safety and nutrition programs for adults and youth with emphasis on volunteer teacher training. She is a consultant to the Food Safety Advisor Program. Olga provides cultural diversity and leadership training for organizations and community groups. She earned a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Puerto Rico and an MS in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Washington. Olga is a Registered Dietetician.

Helen Arnestad is the Administrative Aide and performs reception duties, handles bulletin ordering, inventory and sales, and provides support to the office. She is also the Assistant LAN Manager. Helen has a BA in Language from PLU with a minor in English, Emphasis on Writing. Helen also writes and edits the Pierce County Extension Connections.

Karen Barale is the Pierce County Extension Educator, Nutrition. Her main program responsibilities include Food $ense, EFNEP, and general nutrition. Karen earned a B.S. in Home Economics from WSU and an M.S. in Nutrition from the University of Washington. She is a Registered Dietitian and Fellow of the American Dietetic Association.

Nancy Baskett works in the 4-H Program coordinating 4-H Community Clubs. The 4-H staff utilizes a variety of delivery modes to enable more than 1,000 adult and teen volunteer volunteers to help youth learn valuable life skills. Nancy has a BA from The Evergreen State College in Tacoma with emphasis in Education and Organizational Management. Nancy has a Master of Arts and Organizational Management.
Igor is the LAN manager for the office.
Brett Clubbe is the Square Foot Nutrition Project, Program Assistant. Brett assists Title I schools with school gardens by coordinating supplies and efforts to promote eating fresh vegetables.
Jodie DuBois is the Square Foot Nutrition Project Coordinator. She teaches nutrition and gardening to elementary age children in low income communities through the Square Foot Nutrition Project.
Claudine Hawkins is an Extension Educator in the Expanded Family and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). She reaches limited income families with nutrition education in the Hilltop area of Tacoma, and in parts of Puyallup and Spanaway. Claudine works with families participating in transitional housing programs, participants receiving WIC services, and she teaches nutrition to various parenting teen groups.

Curtis Hinman is Associate Professor with Washington State University Extension and Adjunct Faculty with WSU Department of Natural Resource Sciences.  He directs water resource programs for WSU Extension in Pierce County to protect water quality and aquatic habitat in Puget Sound basin.  Mr. Hinman is the author of the "Low Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound” and the “Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners”.   He is researching, designing and monitoring various low impact development strategies applicable in western Washington, as well as serving on advisory committees that develop regional stormwater management policy and identify funding and research needs.  Mr. Hinman earned a B.S. degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (specializing in lake ecology and water resource management) from University of California Davis.  He holds a Masters of Science degree with a concentration in stream ecology and watershed management from the Yale University.

Nicole Martini is the Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program. She is responsible for recruiting, developing, recognizing and retaining Master Gardener Volunteers. She has prior Extension experience with program development, community outreach, education, and volunteer management as an Extension Agent in Decatur, Georgia. She earned an M.S. in Horticulture with a focus on sustainable agriculture from the University of Georgia, a Graduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainable Development from the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Idaho.

Linda Mathews works with the WSU Square Foot Nutrition Project in Pierce County. During the past 20 years Linda has served in both private and public schools in Puget Sound as an Artist-in-Residence, a teacher and Development Officer. She has BA from The Evergreen State College.

Christina works in the 4-H Program with After School providers such as community centers, day cares, schools, etc. Another responsibility includes assisting the 4-H Teen Ambassadors in planning events and community service activities. Christina previously was an educator with Square Foot Nutrition before beginning her new role in 4-H. She holds a BA in International Relations and Environmental Science from Pacific Lutheran University. Christina was also involved in 4-H as a child for 10 years and as a Project Leader for several years.
Merrianneeta Nesbitt is the Program Coordinator for the WSU Expanded Family and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). She supervises the EFNEP staff, plans and implements the Educators' training and educational outreach. Merrianneeta collaborates with community agencies to coordinate nutrition education with other programming for limited income families in Pierce County.
Griselda Rivera is an Extension Educator with the Expanded Family Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). She teaches nutrition education to both English and Spanish speaking, limited income families in eastside Tacoma, Hilltop, and Lakewood neighborhoods. Her area sites include WIC sites for Mary Bridge Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Community Health Care. She also reaches families through the Head Start Program. While teaching for EFNEP, Griselda earned her BA in Liberal Arts from The Evergreen State College.

Joanne Ross is the chair of the Sewing and Stitchery Expo. Joanne has a BS in Home Economics Education from Washington State University and an MA in Clothing and Textiles from Michigan State University.
Ann Sagawa is responsible for speaker coordination for the Sewing and Stitchery Expo, facilitates the training for the Clothing and Textile Advisors Program, and also serves as the site coordinator for the annual 4-H Summer Sewing Schools. She is an Extension Coordinator for Family Living Programs in Pierce County. Ann has a BA in Textiles from the University of Puget Sound and an MA in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix Online.

Nancy Schorn is secretary to the 4-H Program, orders publications, enrolls 4-H members, assists with the 4-H newsletter, and troubleshoots office equipment. She performs reception duties which include answering telephones, greeting the public and selling publications.
Lessie Tompkins provides leadership development training and facilitation for Extension volunteers and clientele, and community organizations and groups. She is consultant to volunteer educators in the Clothing and Textile Advisors (CTA) program. Lessie has a BA in Liberal Studies from the University of Washington with a focus on diversity issues and organizational leadership and a Master in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University.

Cindy Wroblewski provides office support for special projects including the Square Foot Nutrition and Food$ense programs. Cindy also volunteers regularly as a receptionist and for other office duties.

Chai Yun is an Extension Educator with the Expanded Family and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). She teaches Southeast Asian families, primarily in East Tacoma. She reaches audiences involved in various family involvement center and community center programming. She also works with parents who participate in the Tacoma School District Head Start Program.

 



Contact us:
253-798-7180| Accessibility | Copyright | Policies
Address: 3049 South 36th, Suite 300 Tacoma, WA 98409 | Driving Directions


Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, U.S Department of Agriculture, and Pierce County. Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.