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Tulsa County’s Charlotte Richert honored by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
STILLWATER, Okla. – Tulsa County Extension Director Charlotte Richert was awarded the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service’s most prestigious field staff honor on Jan. 18, the statewide organization’s Distinguished Educator Award.
“The Distinguished Educator Award was designed to truly honor excellence in our profession,” said Jim Trapp, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension associate director. “We expect fewer than 4 percent of our educators and specialists in the field will win this award during their career.”
Richert has been with the Tulsa County Extension Office since 1981, serving in various professional positions and roles to help county and state residents improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their families.
As OSU Cooperative Extension director for Tulsa County, Richert is responsible for providing administrative leadership; coordinating staff development experiences; promoting Extension’s 4-H youth development, agriculture, and family and consumer sciences programs, reporting the impact of county Extension activities; and managing county Extension fiscal responsibilities and facilities.
Prior to assuming the position of director, Richert served as Tulsa County Extension’s family and consumer sciences educator from 2004 to 2010.
Oklahoma State University's James Trapp (left), associate director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, presents the OCES Distinguished Educator Award to Charlotte Richert (right), Tulsa County Extension director. (Photo by Todd Johnson, OSU Agricultural Communications Services)
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“Charlotte has always excelled at providing cutting-edge educational programs and information through face-to-face meetings, broadcast and print media, and social networks, partnering with public and private agencies and organizations to deliver the latest research-based, applied sciences so crucial to helping state residents solve issues and concerns of importance to them,” said Dixie Ferrell, OSU Cooperative Extension director for Oklahoma’s northeast district.
Among Richert’s many career highlights, she provided statewide leadership for the Financial Economic Well-Being Impact Team, was a charter member of the Northeastern Oklahoma Nutrition Network, advised Oklahoma Home and Community Education members and coordinated the county Nutrition Education Assistants program.
She served as Tulsa County Extension 4-H youth development program leader from 1981 to 2004. In this role, she directed and expanded the county office’s 4-H activities, worked with other youth development agencies to provide comprehensive experiences for county youth, managed resource and volunteer development campaigns, and designed and delivered community, urban, school enrichment and special interest outreach programs.
Prior to joining the Tulsa County Extension Office, Richert served as Washington County 4-H Extension home economist from 1979-1981.
“As one of six children, I learned how important it is to accomplish a personal sense of achievement while contributing to the good of the whole, and that true achievement comes from doing your personal best and then challenging that to the next level, of making the best better,” she said.
In summing up her career, Richert provided a statement from the Extension Professional’s Creed: “I believe in my own work and in the opportunity I have to make my life useful to humanity.”
In recognition of her accomplishments, Richert has been honored with approximately 120 awards for outstanding educational programs, teamwork and communication over the course of her career. She has received 18 regional and national awards for innovative programming and outreach.
Her professional affiliations include the Extension organization Epsilon Sigma Phi, for which she served as Oklahoma president from 1994 to 1996; National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences; National Association of Extension 4-H Agents; Executive Institute of Fund Development; Leadership Tulsa; and Oklahoma Financial Jumpstart Coalition.
A Cowboy alumna, Richert earned her Bachelor of Science degree in vocational home economics education from OSU in 1979. She earned her Master of Science degree in home economics education and community service from OSU in 1991.
Washington County Extension Director Randy Pirtle also was named a 2012 recipient of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Distinguished Educator Award during recognition ceremonies on Jan. 18 at OSU’s Stillwater campus.
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REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Donald Stotts
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
143 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-4079
Fax: 405-744-5739
Email: donald.stotts@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating; Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.
