Sheri Seibold

Extension Specialist

4-H Youth Development

Sheri Seibold is an Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development with University of Illinois Extension. She assumed this position in December 2002 after 24 years in county and regional positions with University of Illinois Extension. Much of that time was spent working in the suburban/urban metropolitan area of Chicago/Cook County. She provides leadership in the areas of 4-H Cloverbuds, volunteer development, risk management, and staff development. Her areas of expertise include: youth and adult leadership, character education, service learning, staff development, volunteer screening, risk management, and volunteer training. She is also involved with the healthy lifestyles initiative and has been an active member of the Illinois Get Up and Move! curriculum design team. Sheri has also been an active collaborator with the Illinois 4-H Focus on Character curriculum design team.

For the past 19 years, Sheri has served on or as chair of the Illinois State 4-H Volunteer Development Task Force. This group has written numerous volunteer development materials, taught many in-service trainings for 4-H Youth Development staff, other Extension professionals, and volunteer administrators in Illinois and across the county, as well as conducted volunteer training for 4-H volunteers and other youth agencies staffs.

As a part of the Illinois 4-H Volunteer Development Group, she has help create and initiate the Valued Volunteer Orientation and Training program for new and tenured 4-H volunteers. Using a variety of delivery methods, volunteers complete six different lesson modules during the year to help them strengthen their local club program. Special recognition is presented to those who complete each level of the program. In addition, the Volunteer Development Group has created end-of-session and follow up evaluations for each leader training module. The results are then entered into a web-based evaluation system and statistics can be compiled and used to report to clientele and stakeholders. She has also created several web-based programs related to volunteer topics.

Sheri has also been active in the Serve Illinois Commission's Volunteer Management Network across the state of Illinois. She and other members of the 4-H Volunteer Development Taskforce have presented numerous workshops at regional volunteer conferences across the state on a variety of volunteerism topics.

Sheri has served as co-chair of the National 4-H Learning Priorities Team on Volunteer Development for the Next Generation. This group developed a professional development plan for Extension 4-H staff related to volunteerism. In conjunction with this leadership role she also co-chaired the 2009 National Extension Conference on Volunteerism held in Kentucky.

Sheri holds a M.S. in home economics education from Northern Illinois University and a B.A. in home economics education from Iowa Wesleyan College. Her professional affiliations include: National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4HA), Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Kappa Omicron Nu. She has received the Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Awards from NAE4HA. Sheri also holds a secondary teaching certificate in Illinois. She has served as a peer reviewer for the National Learn and Serve Community Based grants in 2006.

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