Gina Avila Selected for 2026 North Central Extension Leadership Development (NELD) Program

Purdue Extension is pleased to announce that Gina Avila, Purdue Extension Community Development Educator in Porter County, has been selected to participate in the 2026 North Central Extension Leadership Development (NELD) program, a highly competitive, multi-state leadership initiative that builds leadership capacity across Extension systems in the North Central region

NELD is designed to prepare current and emerging Extension leaders with the vision, courage, and tools needed to lead in a changing world. The year-long program combines virtual cohort learning with immersive, in-person leadership experiences focused on self-awareness, collaboration, adaptive leadership, and systems-thinking. Participants are selected to represent their states based on demonstrated leadership, commitment to Extension, and potential to shape the future of the organization

Avila serves as a Community Development Educator in Porter County and plays a leadership role across local, statewide, and national initiatives. She is actively involved with the Northwest Indiana educator team, co-leads Purdue Extension’s statewide Digital Transformation Team, and contributes to national digital education efforts through the National Digital Education Extension Team (NDEET). Her work focuses on strengthening collaboration, advancing digital equity, and supporting Extension’s modernization efforts.

“I am honored to be selected for the NELD program and excited to learn alongside Extension colleagues from across the North Central region,” Avila said. “This opportunity will allow me to further develop my leadership skills while bringing new insights and strategies back to Purdue Extension to support collaboration, innovation, and organizational growth.”

The 2026 NELD program includes virtual workshops and three in-person sessions held in Kansas City, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; and Washington, D.C., and is hosted by Kansas State University’s Staley School of Leadership

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