Burlington--Deb Heleba recently joined University of Vermont (UVM) Extension as the statewide outreach and education program manager for Community Horticulture Programs.
In this role, she leads the Extension Master Gardener and Vermont Master Composter programs and helps support more than 500 active volunteers who provide gardening and composting education in their local communities around the state. Heleba brings in-depth experience in online educational programs for adults, public communications and social media, program evaluation and web management to the program.
"I started my career as a field research technician in the UVM Department of Plant and Soil Science, working in the apple orchards at the UVM Hort Farm," Heleba said. "Over the years, I have dabbled with many aspects of sustainable agriculture in my work with UVM from business development with the Women's Agricultural Network and farm business succession with the Land Link Vermont program to online education for organic dairy farmers for the Northwest Crops and Soils Team.
"After some exciting work on the regional level with the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research Education program, it feels great to return to UVM Extension to work with our state's Master Gardeners and Composters who are committed to science, education, their communities and the environment."
Heleba grew up in southern Vermont and has a Master of Science degree in community development and applied economics from UVM.
She can be reached at debra.heleba@uvm.edu. To learn more about the Community Horticulture Programs, please visit www.uvm.edu/extension/mastergardener.