Brad Gaolach

Western Center for Metropolitan and Extension Center

Metropolitan Center for Applied Research and Extension

Dr. Brad Gaolach currently serves as the founding Director of both WSU’s Metropolitan Center for Applied Research and Extension and the National Urban Research and Extension Center (formerly known as the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research). Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Extension County Director for the two most populous counties in Washington State. He also played a leading role in the development of the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) and hosted the 2019 National Urban Extension Conference in Seattle, WA. His entire 20+ years with WSU Extension has been in large, urban counties working in and having programmatic oversight of topics ranging from natural resources, small-scale agriculture, water quality, food-energy-water, positive youth development, health and wellness, and more. In these roles, he has developed expertise in being a connector of opportunities and assets.

Trained as population and community ecologist, he brings systems and sustainability-based approaches to community-based applied research and education programs. He has conducted applied research and developed extension programs ranging from water quality, climate change, agriculture, food systems, and community and economic development. Currently, he is part of the leadership for ECOP’s Urban Agriculture and Food Systems Program Action Team; two USDA NIFA Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agricultural grants, including one on building integrated agriculture; and provides leadership for the community-engaged research components of an NSF Sustainable Regional System’s research network.