
Mountain Region
Impact Highlights
Where University Meets Community
Across Colorado’s Mountain Region, CSU Extension specialists are serving their communities and addressing local needs by sharing expertise and resources, delivering educational programming, strengthening partnerships, and engaging youth and volunteers.
Key impact areas for Mountain Region specialists in 2025 spanned topics such as youth outreach, health promotion, food systems, natural resources, agriculture, volunteer engagement, and more.

2025 Impact Highlights
15,000+
Contacts reached by CSU Extension Specialists
Through consultations and presentations across the Mountain Region.
72
Colorado Master Gardener volunteers
Contributed over 3,530 volunteer hours to communities throughout the region.
3,784
Colorado 4-H youth reached
And over 900 4-H volunteers engaged in supporting youth leadership development.
County & Area Impact Stories
Featured Impact
Prepared, Not Scared: Emergency Planning Empowers Rural Caregivers & Dementia Care Partners
Chaffee County
By equipping rural caregivers with essential planning tools and education, Colorado State University Extension enhances community resilience, reduces emotional and financial burdens, and promotes quality of life for aging populations. Proactive emergency planning empowers families to face challenges with greater clarity and reduced stress.

Across the Region & in Your Community
Impact
Regional Resilience Team addresses community challenges through collaboration, capacity-building
Impact
Physical & Mental Health
Addressing barriers to women’s health education, programming in rural Colorado
Impact
Physical & Mental Health
Women’s Health Education
Impact
Noxious weed education and outreach program
CSU Extension In The Mountain Region
Kurt Jones
Mountain Region Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Gilpin
104 Crestone Ave, Room 300, P.O. Box 699, Salida, CO, 81201
Jennifer Cook
Gilpin County Director, Clear Creek Interim County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Clear Creek
- Gilpin
230 Norton Drive, Black Hawk, CO, 80422
My Programs:
Natural Resources, Agriculture, Garden & Landscape
My Topics:
- Garden & Landscape
- Natural Resources
- Youth Development
Julianne Dinkel
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Fremont
6655 State Hwy 115, Florence, CO, 81226
My Programs:
Online Degrees and Certificates
My Topics:
- Food & Nutrition
- Health & Well-being
Reggie Foster
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Custer
205 South 6th Street, P.O. Box 360, Westcliffe, CO, 81252-0360
Darian Founds
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Teller
11115 W Hwy 24, Unit C, P.O. Box 928, Divide, CO, 80814
Anne Mason
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Jackson
312 5th Street, P.O. Box 1077, Walden, CO, 80480-1077
My Topics:
- Food & Nutrition
- Health & Well-being
- Youth Development
Monica Pless
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Chaffee
185 Quigot Court, Poncha Springs, CO, 81242
Sydney Pryor
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Grand
210 11th Street, Extension Hall, Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 475, Kremmling, CO, 50459-0475
My Topics:
- Health & Well-being
- Youth Development
Dan Schroder
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Summit
37 Peak One Dr., CR1005, P. O. Box 5660, Frisco, CO, 80443-5660
My Topics:
- Natural Resources
Diana Solenberger
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Lake
901 US- 24, New Discovery Room 125, Colorado Mountain College Leadville Campus, Leadville, CO, 80461
My Topics:
- Natural Resources
Abby Schmidt Williams
County Director, CSU Extension
Extension
Region:
- Mountain
Counties:
- Park
1246 CR 16, P.O. Box 603 (Mail only), Fairplay, CO, 80440-0603
My Topics:
- Health & Well-being
- Youth Development