Mandy Maher Hired as Regional Director for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
August 19th, 2025 by Jim Field
Written by Andrea Welchans (ISU Extension & Outreach)
AMES, Iowa – Mandy Maher has accepted the position of regional director for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach serving Pottawattamie (east and west offices), Cass and Adair counties in western Iowa. She begins the position Sept. 29, 2025. As regional director, Maher will provide administrative leadership to county extension office staff and guidance to county extension councils.
Maher has been the county director for ISU Extension and Outreach in Fremont County since 2012. In this role, Maher supervises county staff to cultivate a positive, high-performing work environment. She provides strategic guidance to the extension council, ensuring legal compliance while advancing personnel, financial and programmatic goals. She adheres to organizational policies and procedures and works closely with the regional director to manage the annual budget. She connects local audiences to research-based education, amplifying impact through targeted marketing and resource development. A civic engagement champion, she strengthens volunteer networks and delivers data-driven reports that highlight program outcomes and inform future initiatives. Her active representation of ISU Extension and Outreach in key local organizations reinforces the institution’s presence and deepens community trust.
“Mandy is an outstanding communicator. She excels at connecting people and fostering meaningful relationships with her staff and community networks making her an excellent fit for the role of a regional director,” said Andrea Welchans, assistant vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach. “We congratulate her and welcome her to her new position with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.”
Maher received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and communications from Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, S.D.
ISU Extension and Outreach is part of the federal Cooperative Extension Service—a network of more than 100 land-grant institutions, including Iowa State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture serving communities and counties across the United States. Every county in Iowa has an elected extension council that decides how to support ISU Extension and Outreach educational programs at the county level.