A lifetime of service as the public "face" of AGNR
Gail Yeiser
Image Credit: Edwin Remsberg
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) is steeped in rich history, dating back to 1856 when the University of Maryland (UMD) was founded as the Maryland Agricultural College. Pursuits associated with farming and agriculture are often perceived as male dominant, but over 150 years since its inception, the college proudly maintains a decidedly different balance in its workforce and student body. Women comprise 75% of the population within AGNR including students, faculty, and staff.
This month, the college pays tribute to the historical contributions of four of our retired women faculty and staff who have helped make our college what it is today. Some are still contributing at a very high level, even well into their retirement. Each leader has left behind a significant legacy, helping to embed foundational programs and ideas into the fabric of AGNR. They also served as outstanding mentors and ambassadors for the college, with a commitment to enhance the lives and livelihoods of those around them.
Gail Yeiser
Retired Assistant to the Dean
A lifetime of service as the public "face" of AGNR
Throughout her professional life, Gail Yeiser never had to look past her alma mater to make her smile, and she could rest easy at night knowing she was right where she was meant to be. Following completion of a Master’s in Agricultural and Extension Education in 1982, Yeiser’s career with UMD took off, traveling an arc from entry level student services position with the Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) to trusted advisor to the dean that helped shape and strengthen AGNR’s statewide reputation for decades to come.
She remained with the IAA throughout the ‘80s, with a focus on admissions, orientation, and recruitment, before finally settling into a more tailored position in 1992 dedicated to public and alumni relations for the broader college. By the time she retired in 2017, her reputation was firmly established as the architect of a highly effective college-wide external and alumni relations program, helping AGNR solidify foundational partnerships and drastically increase its overall impact and visibility throughout the state.
To fully understand her impact on AGNR, it’s helpful to start in the ‘90s. Yeiser paints a vivid picture of the “state of the college” during that time frame.
“During the ‘90s, there were some budget cuts to AGNR – academically and Extension,” says Yeiser. “As a result, we unfortunately saw some stakeholder disenfranchisement with ‘their’ land-grant institution. There was a perception that university administration wasn’t committed to honoring the land-grant mission, which trickled down to AGNR.”
Within this newfound reality, Yeiser found renewed clarity and purpose for the future of AGNR external relations. She identified new opportunities for the college, including purchasing exhibit space at the Maryland Farm Bureau Convention, where AGNR could be visible and begin the healing process of listening to its stakeholders. Being the face of AGNR to external stakeholders grew into a better understanding of so many of the agricultural organizations across the state, how they overlapped and worked together. Yeiser cites developing professional and personal friendships as a real benefit as well. Over time, these conversations and opportunities became “invitations” to visit across the state, where Yeiser was happy to share what was going on within the college, and again, listen to concerns and share those with college administrators.
“Inviting myself to local fairs to host a college exhibit built many relationships that in the long run turned into great partnerships for AGNR, at The Great Frederick Fair, and the Maryland State Fair in particular,” says Yeiser. “Having not only a presence, but being a part of the planning and program for days when high school students would visit the fair, was not only fun, but a great way to connect with teachers, parents, and families. Many were alumni, and many more were Extension clients – also a very vital part of the AGNR family.”
Yeiser’s working knowledge of the college’s three mission areas – academics, Extension, and research served her well over the years. She began working collaboratively on projects such as the AGNR Open Houses, allowing her access to faculty and staff across the state and drawing on their expertise to fulfill a stakeholder specific request following a trade-show, fair, or conference exhibiting opportunity. She shaped her position to become the perfect liaison between college personnel and its statewide audience. Yeiser soon deepened her involvement in the alumni world as well.
“Working with the AGNR Alumni Chapter and its board of directors provided another avenue of opportunities to identify and relate to alums of all age groups. Career Fairs that I coordinated with the assistance and guidance from alumni opened yet another connection and established relationships that continue to this day,” explains Yeiser. “I did have a personal connection to many alumni from the ‘50s to ‘70s since my dad had been associate dean for academic programs. While times and university policies and philosophies had changed dramatically from the ‘70s, some of those conversations were easily started because I knew and appreciated their college experience and points of reference.”
In retirement, Yeiser continues her work in bridging AGNR to the broader statewide community, both in philosophy and practice. She hopes the doors she opened in the ‘90s remain open to the citizens of Maryland in relation to AGNR and the campus as a whole. She still serves on the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Alumni Board as the only sitting female member, the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation Board, the Maryland 4-H Foundation Board, and the Maryland Agriculture Council. She even finds time to volunteer as a 4-H leader.
“I think the agricultural community takes the land-grant mission very seriously and personally, in that their tax dollars support the university and specifically all three components of AGNR - teaching, research, and Extension.” explains Yeiser. “I think continuing and expanding opportunities like involvement at the Maryland State Fair, Ag Day or Maryland Day on campus, and embracing opportunities offered by partners like the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation and others will result in goodwill and advocacy by not only alumni, but the citizens of Maryland.”
Yeiser credits her early experiences as a 4-Her as the catalyst for her fearless, can-do attitude which has continued to pay dividends. She cites several female mentors and role models that helped shape her professional approach even before she got to campus and began her career in external relations. Among these is Karen Furner Wootton, her 4-H agent in the early ‘70s who encouraged her to learn as much as she could in any given situation. Even in the ‘70s, she never sensed that doors would be closed to her because she was a woman. As her career progressed, she also received some wonderful mentorship from several men, each of whom provided opportunities for professional growth, development, and autonomy in fulfilling her job roles and expanding beyond the template for her positions.
It was Yeiser’s perennial willingness and ability to meet folks on their level, to find common ground as a resolution to any ill will or conflict, that built lasting bridges into the future.
“I’d like to think that my door and ear were always open to any student, alum, friend, or critic of AGNR over the years – man or woman,” says Yeiser. “My dad had always said that listening long enough allowed the student or visitor to perhaps find their own solution to their situation. Over time, I found that to be very true. I never had all the answers, but could hopefully give some ideas and direction for folks to follow to resolve their angst in a situation and improve things for the better.”
