Denise Retzleff Retiring

Denise Retzleff has announced her retirement as of January 2018 after 29 years of dedicated service to the residents of the State of Wisconsin, the past 20 years in Fond du Lac County as the 4-H Youth Development Educator. She also has served as Co-Department Head for the past seven years. 

She is recognized as an expert in the areas of Organizational Leadership, Positive Youth Development, Team Development Scholarship, and embracing and living the Wisconsin Idea. She is a visionary for 4-H/Youth and Extension programming, building capacity with volunteers and youth by encouraging individuals to step outside of their comfort zone by empowering them to learn from their experiences.

She will be remembered for her overwhelming enthusiasm and support for Equity and Inclusion, expanding access of UW-Extension 4-H programming to non-traditional audiences, and her zeal to keep on learning and influencing a greater community in which she lives. She will also be remembered for creating innovative service learning and leadership development opportunities for youth, such as the New Horizons travel and service experience, and the impact positive youth development can make in communities. 

Her colleagues, clients and friends respect her knowledge, vision and impressive ability to foster scholarship in the field of positive youth development; find the educational value in every experience and situation; be welcoming to everyone she encounters; and encourage those around her to take on challenges and to make every situation better than when they first encountered it! Her mentorship has developed thoughtful and effective youth development professionals. Her attentive feedback and active participation in team initiatives helped the Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development Program grow stronger.

We salute her for her excellence, commitment and the positive difference she has made in the lives of so many people.