Dr. Laura Stephenson assumed the critical leadership positions of vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment on Jan. 1, 2025.

Previously, she served as associate vice president for land-grant engagement and associate dean and director of extension.

Stephenson knows Kentucky well and has deep roots in our state and the college through her decades of work and leadership in Cooperative Extension. She has served in extension at both UK and the University of Tennessee.

She has also served as a department chair, is the co-author of many journal articles and publications and has been a leader on millions of dollars in grant awards around issues such as workforce training, nutrition, community building and health. At UK, she led a substantial reorganization of Cooperative Extension to ensure more efficient delivery of services and communication.