Contact Us

Main Office Phone: (813) 744-5519

Fax (813) 744-5776

Email hillsborough@ifas.ufl.edu

Address: 5339 County Rd. 579, Seffner, FL 33584-3334

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am – 5pm

Department Directory

Extension Faculty, Youth, Adult, and 4H Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
(813) 744-5519 x 54121
pbradford@ufl.edu
Provides programs in basic food and nutrition education, food safety, general 4-H Consumer Science and gardening.
Education
Master of Public Health (MPH), University of South Florida College of Public Health

Extension Agent I-Parenting & Family Life
(813) 744-5519 ext. 54140

ortizjo@HillsboroughCounty.org
Provides educational workshops and classes that go over subjects such as family life, parenting skills, work life balance, and childcare provider training to enhance the family dynamic.
Education
Master of Health Sciences, Public Health (MPH), Excelsior College

Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Texas at El Paso

Associate of Arts, El Paso Community College

Nutrition and Health Agent
(813) 744-5519 x 54136
kbraggarmatrout@ufl.edu | braggk@hcflgov.net
Provides educational classes and information regarding food, nutrition and health, including food safety, nutrition for the elderly and other populations, and food preservation classes.
Education
B.A., Business Administration with an A.A in Nutiriton - Tampa College

Extension Faculty, Personal Finance
(813) 744-5519 x 54143
lmleslie@ufl.edu
Personal finance including cash flow management, credit, debt management, and saving & investing for future goals. Development and adaptation of educational materials to meet needs of different audiences. Outreach includes classes, 1-1 financial mentoring, webinars, and newsletters. Local coordinator for the Florida Master Money Mentor program and co-coordinator of Tampa Bay Saves.
Education
M.Ed., Instructional Technology, University of South Florida
Certified Financial Planner®
Accredited Financial Counselor®

Food System Program Coordinator
(813) 744-5519 x 54111
petrellaML@hcflgov.net
Promotes and bolsters small and mid-scale regional agricultural production by engaging in cross-community partnerships and programming.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Food and Resource Economics, minor in Organic and Sustainable Food Production, University of Florida

Master of Science in Community Development & Applied Economics, University of Vermont

Extension Faculty, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
(813) 744-5519 x 54105
labarber@ufl.edu
Water conservation; reducing stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution; Florida-friendly landscape design and maintenance.
Education
B.A., College of St. Catherine

Extension Faculty, Urban, Community, and Traditional Forestry
(813) 744-5519 x 54106
northrop@ufl.edu
Provides educational programs, technical assistance and planning services to governments, arboricultural and natural resource businesses, communities and homeowners on issues and practices related to urban and community forestry and tree care. Provides technical advice and planning assistance to private and public forest land owners on forest management and restoration, as well as protection and preservation of natural areas.
Education
M.S., Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware
B.S., Forestry/Wildlife, Virginia Tech

Extension Faculty, Area Agent for Commercial Citrus for Hillsborough and Polk Counties
(813) 744-5519 x 54131- Hillsborough County
(863) 519-8677 x 108 - Polk County
wcoswalt@ufl.edu
Commercial citrus production, crop physiology, citrus nutrition, citrus pest and water management.
Education
M.S., Horticultural Science - Fruit Crops, University of Florida, B.S., Citrus Production Management, University of Florida

Extension Faculty, Area Commercial Ornamental Production Agent for Hillsborough & Polk Counties
(813) 744-5519 x 54147
ststeed@ufl.edu
Commercial Ornamental Plant Production – Best Management Practices for Irrigation and fertilization, Integrated Pest Management, Labor and Business Management and Market Development. Youth 4-H and Future Farmers of America Ornamental Horticulture programs.
Education
M.S., Horticulture, University of Florida
B.S., Horticulture, University of Florida

Extension Faculty, Fruit and Vegetable – Commercial Production
(813) 744-5519 x 54134
wael.elwakil@ufl.edu
Commercial Production – Cultural practices, Plant Nutrition, Water and Pest Management, Post Harvest Issues and Marketing.
Education
DPM, Doctor of Plant Medicine, University of Florida

M.S., Plant Pathology, University of Florida

B.S., Plant Pathology, Mansoura University, Egypt

Extension Faculty, Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises
(813) 744-5519 x 54119
allisonwilliams@ufl.edu
Program includes sustainable agriculture methods, agricultural marketing, rural resource conservation and protection, least toxic pest management, and regulatory requirements for agricultural production. Work may include programs relating to rural/urban interface, intensive small scale agricultural, and small farm livestock/forage production. Additional responsibilities include supporting local farmers' markets and urban farms in addressing food accessibility. Also contributes to the 4-H Youth Development program.
Education
B.S., Agriculture (Livestock Production), Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton, Georgia

M.S., Agriculture, Murray State University (in progress)

Extension Faculty, Professional Horticulture Services, IPM, and Small Farms
(813) 744-5519 x 54103
szcrmchz@ufl.edu
Provides educational and diagnostic resources and training to Green Industry professionals regarding urban landscape horticulture, reducing non-point source pollution, integrated pest management (IPM), pesticide licensing and improving industry professionalism.
Education
B.S., Landscape and Nursery Management/Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, 2005
MBA, Marketing, California State University, 1991
B.S., Biology, Old Dominion University, 1983
Certified Laboratory Assistant, ASCP, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, 1977

Extension Faculty, 4-H Youth Development
(813) 744-5519 x 54132
PolisenoC@hillsboroughcounty.org
Programs include Community Clubs, Afterschool Programs, School Enrichment Programs, Ag-Venture, 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking, and the development of other subject matter programs.
Education
B.S., Business Economics, University of South Florida

Extension Faculty, 4-H Youth Development
(813) 744-5519 x 54116
brani54@ufl.edu
Programs include Community Clubs, Afterschool Programs, School Enrichment Programs, Ag-Venture, 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking, and the development of other subject matter programs.
Education
B.S., Agriculture Education & Communication, University of Florida

County Extension Director
(813) 744-5519 x 54113
grans@ufl.edu
Coordinates and supports the staff and services of UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension