Extension leader wins national award

Paige

Dr. Raygene Paige, Mississippi State extension service leader, recently received national recognition for her service to the organization.

Paige was presented the 1997 National Diversity Award during a U.S. Department of Agriculture awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. A 33-year extension veteran, she is the state program leader of family and consumer education.

"Dr. Paige exemplifies superb leadership that fosters diversity and pluralism in every aspect of extension," said Dr. Ron Brown, extension service director, who nominated Paige for the award.

Paige has helped extension become a diversified organization and posesses leadership skills and abilities to work well with others and look to the future, Brown added.

Some of Paige's accomplishments include developing and conducting statewide training for extension personnel on civil rights awareness. The program includes recruiting minorities, identifying leaders and developing programs to reach culturally diverse audiences.

Paige's other recent awards are the state Institutions of Higher Learning Black History Month Educator and American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Leader Award.