Programs and Staff
Office Hours and Program Contacts
Community & Economic Development
Kristine Perry – Interim County Director, WSU Clark County Extension (Community & Economic Development), – kristine.perry@wsu.edu
The County Director administers the office, managing fiscal and personnel resources serving to maximize the benefit of WSU Extension programs to the citizens of Clark County. Kristine also oversees and manages the SNAP-Ed program. She has been with WSU Extension since 2009.
M.S. Business, Leadership and Management, Western Governors University
B.S. in Community Health Education, Western Washington University
Office Administration
Annette Vary-Getty – Fiscal Specialist II, annette.vary-getty@wsu.edu
Annette supports WSU Clark County Extension working with the County Director and Faculty by ensuring fiscal responsibilities, assisting the public and training workforce preparation employees. Before coming to WSU Clark County Extension, Annette worked in various positions where she gained experience in many areas, from permitting to warehousing.
Originally from Rhode Island, she has lived in Texas, Maryland, and Virginia before putting down roots in Vancouver. Annette is married; they have cats and love antiquing.
B.A. in Business Management, Pacific University
4-H Youth Development
Missy McElprang – 4-H/Youth Development Regional Specialist Faculty, missy.cummins@wsu.edu
Missy Cummins grew up participating in 4-H in Idaho where her main focus of projects were home economics/miscellaneous and leadership. She comes to us from Bannock County (in SE Idaho) where she has worked as the 4-H Extension Educator for 5 1/2 years. In Idaho, Missy worked to increase the reach of the 4-H program in Bannock County through teen leadership, school enrichment, day camps, juvenile offender life skill development, and livestock programs for urban youth. She has four children, Sam, Jake, Aliza, and Addie.
M.Ed., Child and Family Studies, Idaho State University, Pocatello Idaho.
B.A., General Studies, Idaho State University, Pocatello Idaho.
Chantal Krystiniak – 4-H Youth Development Coordinator, chantal.krystiniak@wsu.edu
Chantal will be providing leadership for the Clark Extension work in the 4-H Youth Development Program of Clark County and efforts serving youth outside of the 4-H club system, specifically high-risk youth in detention and underserved populations. Chantal enjoys spending time in nature with Sherman, her miniature poodle.
M.S., Educational Leadership and Policy, Leadership for Sustainability Education Portland State University
B.S., Child and Family Development, Western Michigan University
Phoebe Jud – 4-H Program Coordinator and Heritage Farm Community Garden Coordinator, phoebe.jud@wsu.edu Pheobe will be assisting with the 4-H Club model throughout the county by providing technical assistance to 4-H Club Leaders as well as 4-H youth members and their families. Phoebe is a 4-H Alumni herself, showing horses, goats, rabbits, and ducks in Skamania County for 6 years. When it is cold outside, Phoebe enjoys reading science fiction books or knitting inside with her dachshund Boris. But when the weather gets warm, you can find her working in the garden!
Family Nutrition Education Programs
EFNEP Adult Nutrition Education Program
Sara Peitzmeier – EFNEP Coordinator Senior, sara.peitzmeier@wsu.edu
Sara is an EFNEP Educator with WSU Clark County Extension. She teaches classes in both English and Spanish. Sara is from Los Angeles but has fallen for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. When she is not at work, Sara likes to be outside exploring the Columbia River Gorge with her husband and 2 children, walking her husky, or crafting a DIY project she found on Pinterest.
BS in Nutrition, Arizona State University. 2021
Scotty Parrish – EFNEP Nutrition Educator, scott.c.parrish@wsu.edu
Scotty is an EFNEP Educator with WSU Clark County Extension. He teaches nutrition education classes to students in Vancouver and Evergreen shool districts as well as adults in Clark County. After work, Scotty enjoys spending time in his garden.
Western Culinary Institute, Portland OR
Callum Verstrate – Nutrition Education Assistant, cal.verstrate@wsu.edu
Cal is an EFNEP Educator with WSU Clark County Extension. They teach evidence-based nutrition curriculum to adults in Clark County. Cal has a professional background in nutrition education and community engagement, and is currently working towards a master’s degree in sustainable food systems. Outside of work, Cal enjoys reading, being outdoors, playing video games, and spending time with their husband and two cats.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Southwest WA Commercial Agriculture Program
Justin O’Dea – Regional Agricultural Specialist Faculty, justin.odea@wsu.edu
Justin administers the Southwest WA regional Agriculture Extension program for WSU in Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties. Justin focuses on specialty crop production and strategies for farms to be profitable, sustainable, and resilient in regions with high urbanization pressure, but with strong potential for growth in local, high-value, and direct markets.
Justin trained in agronomy, soil science, and ecology, and primarily worked on projects in soil health, cropping systems/rotation, cover crops, reduced tillage, value-added grain production, and integrated weed and pest management. Before joining WSU, Justin worked for five years at Cornell Cooperative Extension in the Hudson Valley region of New York. His varied background includes working on multiple farms producing vegetables, fruits, and field crops in New York, Vermont, India, and Montana. Justin, his wife, and two children enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling, and visiting their extended families.
M.S. Land Resources and Environmental Sciences. Montana State University, 2011
B.A. Cultural Ecology and Sustainable Development. Evergreen State College, 2003
Kyle Bouchard – Research Technician and Program Assistant
Kyle assists with a project on rose stem girdler, an emerging pest of cranberries within the Southwest WA Commercial Agriculture Extension program.
Home/Community Horticulture, Natural Resource Stewardship & Land-based Economic Development
WSU Master Gardener Program
Erika Johnson – WSU Master Gardener Coordinator, erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu
A military brat, Erika spent her childhood in Texas, Mississippi, California, and the Philippines. She taught English in Korea, coordinated the summer youth volunteer program at the Oregon Zoo, and
most recently coordinated an AmeriCorps program out of Educational Service District 112, in Vancouver. Erika lives with her husband, Mark and their two dogs, Tucker and Lester. Erika enjoys gardening, cycling, and spending time with family.
B.S. in Biology, California State University, Stanislaus – Turlock, CA. 1993
Hanna McDougall – School Garden Coordinator – hanna.mcdougall@wsu.edu Hanna McDougall partners with schools in Clark County to help support and resource teachers, staff and parents in the use of school gardens with students. Through her role, she aims to cultivate environmental awareness, instill respect for all living organisms, and spark curiosity in her students. In her free time, Hanna enjoys creating art, gardening, photographing arthropods and fungi, reading, knitting, hiking, and volunteering as a Clark County Master Gardener.
Small Acreage Program
Terry Koper – Small Acreage Program Coordinator – terry.koper@wsu.edu
Terry develops and coordinates educational programs for Clark County residents to increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to implement sustainable land management practices, with a priority on water quality.
Terry is enthusiastic about sustainable local agricultural systems and improving soil health. Terry has worked as a Resource Conservation Development (RC&D) Coordinator and Soil Scientist for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS-USDA). Terry also served as a Climate and Agricultural Analyst, the Coordinator of Northwest Rural Farms and Climate Change Initiative, and Adjunct Faculty at Mount Hood Community College. During leisure time, Terry is typically off skiing down a mountain, floating on a river, or hiking in a forest.
M.S. in Biology and in Soil Science. Utah State University – Logan, UT
B.S. in Environmental Biology, Chemistry Minor. Fort Lewis College – Durango, CO
Regional Forestry Program (based in Lewis County)
Elsa Haun – Extension Forestry Coordinator, SW Washington – elsa.haun@wsu.edu Based in Olympia, Elsa works with the statewide Extension Forestry team to coordinate classes, educational events, and workshops for small forest landowners in this region. She is enthusiastic about connecting with the public to help them access knowledge and resources to manage their forest land according to their objectives. Hailing from Western North Carolina, Elsa held a variety of agricultural roles before moving into forestry, most recently working as the Community Garden Production Supervisor at the Nisqually Indian Tribe. Outside of work hours, Elsa is probably contra dancing, hiking, or cooking up a meal with her family.