Melissa Hamilton
Melissa Hamilton
Extension Educator — Community Development and Agriculture
208-382-7190
University of Idaho Extension, Valley County
110 West Pine St. #510
Cascade, ID 83611
Melissa's interests include rural regional planning, multi-modal transportation systems, asset/value based development, community food systems, and meeting facilitation and capacity building.
M.S., University of Idaho, 2011
B.S., University of South Carolina, 2003
- Community development
- Organizational leadership
- Capacity building
- Social capital
- Collaborative decision making
- Regional planning
- Facilitation skills
- Leadership development
- Fostering innovation and creativity through community design
- Placemaking
- Agriculture/horticulture
- Community gardens
- Food systems
- Passive solar greenhouse design
- Environmental education interpretive design
- Hamilton, M. B., Wahl, L., & Stokes, B. (2021). Know the Land, Save the Land: Apparel Design for Extension Education. Journal of Extension, 58(3), Article 14. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol58/iss3/14
- Silkwood, G., Young, M., Dolecheck, S., Hamilton, M., Kinder, C., Blended Learning: Connecting Expertise and Building Networks in Rural Communities. Journal of NACAA. [online], Vol. 10 (1), June 2017. Available at: http://www.nacaa.com/journal/index.php?jid=733
Abstracts and proceedings
- Hamilton, M.B., Young, M., Silkwood, G., Dolecheck, S., Kinder, C. Blended Learning: Connecting Expertise and Building Networks in Rural Communities throughout Idaho. National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP), Big Sky, MT. June 11-15, 2017.
- Hamilton, M.B., Coalition Building for Regional Economic Development in Rural America. National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP), Big Sky, MT. June 11-15, 2017.
- Hamilton, M.B., Coalition Building for Regional Economic Development in Rural America. Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD), Washington, D.C. April 2-5, 2017.
- Hamilton, M.B., Young, M., Silkwood, G., Dolecheck, S., Kinder, C. Blended Learning: Connecting Expertise and Building Networks in Rural Communities throughout Idaho. Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP), Orlando, FL. February 7-10, 2017.
- Hamilton, M.B. 2023. Extension professionals making a broader impact through U and I Together series.
- Hamilton, M.B. 2023. Improving program opportunities in community development and natural resources.
- Hamilton, M.B. 2023. Sustainability for public art created through the Cascade Arts Walk Placemaking project.
- Hamilton, M.B. 2023. Peer Learning Networks and the Tri-state community review network.
Melissa Hamilton is a community development, agriculture and horticulture Extension educator in Valley County. Melissa is focused on rural regional planning, multi-modal transportation systems, asset/value based development, community food systems, meeting facilitation and capacity building. Melissa holds a master's degree in bioregional planning and community design from the University of Idaho and a bachelor's degree in biology from University of South Carolina.
- Hamilton, M.B., Innovation and Creativity Award (Individual – IANCDEP), National Runner-up (NACDEP), Placemaking in Cascade, Idaho and National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (IANCDEP) (NACDEP), April 2023.
- Hamilton, M.B., Educational Technology Award (Individual), U and I Together Series: Design your Community. National and State Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (IANCDEP) (NACDEP), April 2023.
- Hamilton, M.B., Distinguished Service Award, Idaho Association of Natural Resource and Community Development Professionals (IANCDEP), April 2023.
- Hamilton, M.B., et al. Community Outreach Award, American Planning Association, (APA) Idaho Chapter. October 6, 2022.
- Hamilton, M.B., Diversity Award (Individual), National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, (NACDEP) June 2022.