SUMNERS TO HEAD AU-ACES ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
Joe Sumners, former director of the Auburn University Economic Development Institute, has been named director of the new AU-ACES Economic and Community Development Institute, a partnership between AU’s Office of University Outreach and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
“I am very excited about the opportunities for this partnership,” said Sumners. “There is a lot that needs to be done to improve economic conditions throughout Alabama, especially in our rural areas. We believe that combining the resources of AU and ACES in a common effort puts us in the best position to make a positive difference for our state.”
As the new ECDI director, Sumners will continue to serve as an Outreach Director, and also will become a member of the Extension program management team. In this dual role, he will lead economic and community development for both Extension and Auburn University.
“The long-term strategic goal of the ECDI is to bring rural economic and community development programming to a much higher level of visibility than it has ever had in the past in our state, and to ensure that it continues as one of Extension’s important base program areas,” said Gaines Smith, interim director of ACES.
On June 16 at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, Sumners and the ECDI staff will facilitate a statewide roundtable discussion for state and community leaders about the needs and opportunities in rural development in Alabama.
Sumners has worked with EDI since 2000, where he served as associate director until his appointment as director in 2002. Before coming to EDI, Sumners served as training and research coordinator for Auburn University’s Center for Governmental Services.
He also served on the political science faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Sumners has conducted more than 150 workshops and courses for Alabama county and municipal officials. He has over 15 years of experience in providing technical assistance to Alabama cities and counties. In addition, he has provided strategic planning and facilitation assistance to many statewide associations and organizations in Alabama.
He is an active member of numerous state and regional economic and community development organizations, including the Alabama Communities of Excellence Board of Directors, the Alabama Development Office’s Community and Rural Development Advisory Board, the International Economic Development Council, the Southern Economic Development Council, the Southern Growth Policies Board, and the Economic Development Association of Alabama.
Sumners has authored numerous journal articles, research and issue papers, book chapters, outreach periodicals and other publications.
A native of Harpersville, Sumners received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from AU and his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.
