UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) has announced the release of its 2026 Call for UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Advisor and Specialist Positions. The initiative aims to expand the organization’s academic presence across California, addressing both current and future needs.
Vice President Glenda Humiston stated, “I am pleased to formally release the 2026 Call for UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Advisor and Specialist Positions. We continue to prioritize growing our academic footprint to provide the expertise needed to improve the lives of all Californians and address emerging and future needs. I am thrilled that we have our Strategic Vision 2040 for this new position call.”
The plan includes adding 20 new UCCE positions: between 13 and 14 new priority UCCE Advisor roles, as well as six or seven new priority UCCE Specialist positions. This builds on nearly 50 positions approved in the 2024 cycle and over 100 positions released in 2022.
Humiston explained that processes for filling these roles will remain similar to previous years but include improvements based on feedback. The process encourages active involvement from both internal staff and external stakeholders in identifying and co-developing proposals. Program Teams within UC ANR—now including agInnovation, formerly known as Agricultural Experiment Station—will play a key role by bringing programmatic expertise and a statewide perspective. Local Cooperative Extension directors and campus leaders will contribute knowledge of local needs.
“For UCCE Advisor positions, the Area Directors/County Directors and the Research and Extension Center (REC) Directors will prioritize positions in their regional teams, matching priority ideas generated by Program Teams,” Humiston said. “For UCCE Specialist positions, campuses submit position proposals that match Program Team priorities and reflect their academic planning. The REC System can submit up to two proposals to fill any additional systemwide position needs.”
A detailed timeline has been provided for both advisor and specialist roles:
1. Identify priority positions – by March 31
2. Match priorities with other groups – by April 24
3. Proposal co-creation and submission – by June 12
4. Program Council reviews recommendations – July 7-8
5. Final decisions released by Vice President Humiston – early fall
A process orientation webinar is scheduled for March 4 from 1-3 p.m., with information sent directly to relevant leadership groups.
Humiston concluded, “I look forward to seeing the proposals developed through this collaborative prioritization.”
UC ANR is affiliated with the University of California https://ucanr.edu/ and applies university expertise statewide through research, outreach initiatives, and science-based practices https://ucanr.edu/. The organization operates offices in all of California’s counties along with nine Research and Extension Centers that serve as living laboratories across diverse ecosystems https://ucanr.edu/. For more than a century, UC ANR has supported communities with resources in nutrition, food networks, youth education, farming innovation, environmental conservation, wildfire protection, and economic opportunity https://ucanr.edu/.
Glenda Humiston serves as vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources https://ucanr.edu/.