Brent Hales named vice president for engagement and extension at Kansas State University

Kansas State University has named Brent Hales as its new vice president for engagement and extension, effective Nov. 16.

Hales brings more than two decades of experience in higher education, including leadership positions at the University of California, Penn State University and the University of Minnesota. He will oversee the university's engagement and extension efforts, government relations and economic development initiatives.

Hales will serve on the president's cabinet and provide leadership for the Office of External Engagement, K-State Extension, Government Relations and Economic Development.

Hales will also represent K-State in matters involving state and federal government relations and work with university leaders and external partners on economic development, industry partnerships and workforce needs across Kansas.

"Dr. Hales understands what it means for a land-grant university to serve its state," President Richard Linton said. "He has spent his career working with communities and helping universities put their resources to work beyond campus. His experience and approach to building relationships will serve K-State well as we continue our work across Kansas."

Hales most recently served as associate vice president of research and extension for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources from 2023 to 2026.

During his time at the University of California, Hales and his team reorganized research efforts into six program areas and 31 research and program teams. He and his team also established the UC ANR Policy Institute and expanded the university's research and extension presence across multiple campuses.

Before joining the University of California, Hales served as associate dean and director of Penn State Extension from 2019 to 2023, overseeing approximately 650 faculty, educators and staff and an $80 million budget. During his tenure, Penn State Extension Online grew from 30,000 program registrants to more than 600,000 in one year.

Hales previously held several leadership positions with the University of Minnesota Extension, including senior associate dean, chief financial officer and associate dean of the Center for Community Vitality. He also held faculty and administrative positions at the University of Southern Mississippi and Delta State University, where his work focused on community and economic development.

"I am truly grateful to be able to serve in one of the premier land-grant institutions in the United States," Hales said. "I am committed to working with the stakeholders, staff, faculty and administration in an open and transparent manner. Our efforts will continue to focus on building Kansans' capacity to meet their own needs through our research, extension and advocacy work. I look forward to meeting and learning from the entire K-State team."

Hales has presented his research and work on rural development, entrepreneurship and community engagement at conferences in the United States and abroad. He has also served on national extension and research boards, including the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy and the National Urban Research and Extension Center.

Hales earned a doctorate in rural sociology from Iowa State University, a master's degree in sociology from Middle Tennessee State University and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Brigham Young University. He was a Food Systems Leadership Institute fellow from 2013 to 2015.