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 to give young people the capacity to act as responsible citizens and agents of community change. Get to know our growing 4-H and Positive Youth Development team of experts.
Dr. Shannon Horrillo
Dr. Shannon Horrillo is the Division Director for Youth and 4-H in the Institute of Youth, Family, and Community. In this role, she provides leadership and oversight for the division’s research, education and extension activities across the nation through competitive grant programs. These programs are focused on promoting positive youth development and advancing food and agricultural sciences. She also provides leadership to the division’s strategic priorities as well as supervision and administration of the 4-H Youth Development Program at the federal level. Prior to joining NIFA, Dr. Horrillo served over 13 years with the Cooperative Extension Service as the interim Director of Extension and Associate Dean for Engagement and Associate Director of Extension in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources at the University of Nevada, Reno and in several leadership roles at the University of California Cooperative Extension – including State 4-H Director. Dr. Horrillo received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate from the University of California, Davis in the areas of child and human development.
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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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Annie Ceccarini
Annie Ceccarini serves as National Program Leader in the Division of Youth and 4-H. She works with stakeholders to build capacity and partnerships for the 4-H system with emphasis on volunteerism, professional development, and civic engagement. Annie also provides leadership for the annual National 4-H Conference by establishing meaningful and mutually beneficial collaborations both internal to USDA and externally with other federal agencies.
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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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