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
- Placemaking
- Facilitating conversations surrounding rural regional planning/communication
- Multi-modal transportation options
- Asset/value-based assessment
- Ripple mapping
- Community food systems
- Climate change education to rural audiences
- Strengthening community capitals framework and capacity building in rural places
- Dougherty, M. J., Hamilton, M. B., & Neumann, B. (2024). Extension Efforts to Address the Current National Housing Crisis. The Journal of Extension, 62(2), Article 5. https://open.clemson.edu/joe/vol62/iss2/5
- Hamilton, M.B., D. Callister, K. Boone. Starting a Steering Committee: A Change Agent’s Guide to Success. UI Extension Bulletin. BUL 1039. Nov. 27, 2023.
- Hamilton, M.B., J. Werlin, K. Boone, G. Austin. Season Extension for High-Altitude, Short Growing Seasons. UI Extension Bulletin. BUL 936. April 2022.
- Hamilton, M.B., L. Wahl, B. Stokes, Know the Land, Save the Land: Apparel Design for Extension Education. Journal of Extension. 58 (3) Article v58-3iwl. June 2020. Available at: https://joe.org/joe/2020june/iw1.php
- Silkwood, G., M. Young, S. Dolecheck, M. Hamilton, Kinder, C., Blended Learning: Connecting Expertise and Building Networks in Rural Communities. Journal of NACAA. [online], Vol. 10 (1), June 2017. Available at: https://www.nacaa.com/journal/index.php?jid=733
Impact statements
- Western community assessment network (WeCAN) community bootcamp
- Extension professionals making a broader impact through U and I Together series.
- Improving program opportunities in community development and natural resources.
- Sustainability for public art created through the Cascade Arts Walk Placemaking project.
- Peer Learning Networks and the Tri-state community review network.
Melissa B. Hamilton is a tenured associate Extension professor with University of Idaho Extension. Her office is in Cascade and she serves Valley County by connecting research-based information to rural residents in her community. Melissa has worked as a non-formal community educator for 26 years serving state and non-profit organizations across the county. She has taught classes for schools, camps, afterschool programs, state, federal and county agencies for both adult and youth audiences. She has taught hundreds of programs to thousands of stakeholders in environmental education, horticulture, STEAM, marine science and agriculture. In her University of Idaho Extension community education role, she focuses her programming on community development, horticulture, agriculture and youth development programming.
- Hamilton, M.B., University of Excellence Award, Ten Years of Service, April 2024.
- Hamilton, M.B., et al. Innovation and Creativity Award, Individual – Idaho Association of Natural Resource and Community Development Extension Professionals (IANCDEP), National Runner-up, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP).
- Hamilton, M.B., et al. Placemaking in Cascade, Idaho and National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (IANCDEP) National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (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.
- Hamilton, M.B., Diversity Award (Individual), Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP), Idaho Theta Chapter, April 2021.
- Hamilton, M.B., Diversity Award, Idaho Association of Natural Resource and Community Development Extension Professionals (IANCDEP), April 2021.
- Hamilton, M.B., G. Elbert McProud Memorial Scholarship Faculty Award, UI Extension State Award, April 2020.
- Hamilton, M.B. and L. Wahl, Visionary Leadership Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Idaho Theta Chapter. April 2020.