Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, which is why NIFA is a proud to be a committed Federal partner for 4-H.
Through our Division of Youth and 4-H, NIFA provides guidance to 4-H programs to strengthen and promote healthy youth development by providing the tools young people need to act as responsible citizens and agents of community change. Get to know our growing 4-H and Positive Youth Development team of experts.
Manoharan Muthusamy, Ph.D.
Manoharan currently serves as Acting Division Director at the Division of Youth and 4-H. He also provides programmatic leadership and management of NIFA’s 1890 programs.
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Maurice Smith Jr, Ph.D.
Dr. Maurice Smith Jr. serves as a National Program Leader within NIFA’s Institute of Youth, Family, and Community. In collaboration with the Land-Grant University System, Cooperative Extension Service, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations, Smith provides national leadership for 1890 and 4-H positive youth development programs with emphasis on minority serving institutions and underserved youth.
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Bonita Williams, Ph.D.
Dr. Bonita Williams provides national leadership for the Vulnerable Populations Program with emphasis on the coordination and integration of programs that address the needs of youth living with social, emotional, physical, developmental, and mental vulnerabilities in relation to context, residence, and demographics. The program includes providing leadership and management of the Children, Youth and Families at Risk Grant Program.
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Jeff Sallee, Ph.D.
Dr. Jeff Sallee serves as the National Program Leader for Positive Youth Development and 4-H within NIFA’s Institute of Youth, Family, and Community. In collaboration with the Land-Grant University System, Cooperative Extension Service, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations he provides national leadership to 4-H positive youth development programs.
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Christopher Petty
Chris Petty serves as a Program Specialist within NIFA's Institute of Youth Family and Community. Petty assist with competitive and capacity grant funding for 1862, 1890, and 1994 colleges and universities in collaboration with the Land-Grant University System, Cooperative Extension Service, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
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Keesha Corbin, MPH
Keesha Corbin joined NIFA’s Division of Youth and 4-H as a Program Specialist. In Corbin’s role, she works with the 1890’s Capacity programs and the Children Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) program. She currently serves as a Risk Champion for NIFA, working to develop a risk profile for the Institute of Youth, Family and Community. Corbin also serves as the Executive Secretary for the Climate Change Core group and is part of the NIFA Equity Extended Team.
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Andrea Wikiera
Andrea Wikiera serves as a Program Specialist within NIFA's Institute of Youth Family and Community, Division of Youth and 4-H. In Wikiera's role, she works with the Children Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) grant program and the National 4-H Conference planning team.
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Akelia Lewis
Akelia Lewis serves as a Program Assistant within NIFA’s Institute of Youth, Family and Community, Division of Youth and 4-H. In Lewis’ role, she works in collaboration with the National Program Leaders and Program Specialists to complete the Honorarium process for the division’s grant programs. Lewis also serves as the division’s point of contact for most administrative tasks and works with the National 4-H Conference planning team.
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