Sarah Waddle named next director of local community center

A Cook County resident will be, appropriately enough, the next director of the local community center.

University of Minnesota extension announced this month that Sarah Waddle will be the next Cook County Extension educator. In this capacity, she replaces Diane Booth as the next director of the Cook County Community Center as well.

Waddle will begin her role on Sept. 27. 

In this position, Waddle will be responsible for delivering research-informed educational programs in the areas of horticulture and gardening, health, nutrition, and family resiliency. She also will be responsible for programs at the Cook County Community Center and will work directly with the Community Center board of trustees to support its goals. 

Waddle has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in outdoor education from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. She has worked in the Grand Marais community for several years as a program manager at North House Folk School and prior to that as an educator at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. Waddle looks forward to bringing her experience in environmental education and program management to this new partnership between UM extension and Cook County.  

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke about this and more county news in a recent update. Audio below.