Myra Moss specializes in sustainable planning for communities, entrepreneurship development, and energy. She provides guidance, education, and assistance to local elected officials, community leaders, planning and development professionals, and community residents as well as Extension colleagues throughout Ohio and the U.S.
Moss earned her BA at Long Island University and an MA in Sociology and MBA at Ohio University. Prior to her work with Extension, she served in administrative roles with several not-for-profit organizations and was Director of the City-County Planning and Development Board in Athens, Ohio. With Extension she has worked in Economic and Community Development at the county, regional, and state levels.
Moss uses an interdisciplinary problem-solving approach to teaching, focusing on the learner’s needs and critical issues. She builds upon the learner’s own experience and values to help them reach a deeper understanding and ability to apply the topics being covered. She employs a variety of teaching methods in order to address different learning styles and needs, including case studies, web-based materials, webinars, presentations, and group facilitation.
Impacts of her work can be seen in many communities across Ohio. Sustainable Comprehensive Planning assistance was provided to the Cities of Kent (winner of International City Manager’s Association – Program Excellence Award for Citizen Involvement), West Carrollton, and Salem, as well as seven other Ohio communities. She has successfully secured over $20 million in grants and contracts since beginning with Extension in 1989.
Moss is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, The Director’s Award (ODOD), and served as the President of the Ohio Economic Development Association. She has written books, chapters, journal articles, and papers on the topic of Sustainable Communities. In December 2012, Myra became the first recipient of the Raymond A. Schindler Excellence in Community Development Extension Award.
Areas of Expertise:
- Energy Development
- Entrepreneurship
- Sustainable Communities
- Sustainable Planning
- Community Capacity
Programs:
- First Impressions: Community, Corridor and Downtown
- Energize Ohio - An OSU Extension Signature Program
- Renewable Energy (Producer/Utility Scale)
- Residential/Business Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
- Sustainable Development Initiative
- Sustainable Comprehensive Land Use Planning
- Sustainable Entrepreneurship
curriculum vitae
Curriculum Vitae - Myra Moss
Publications
Romich, E., Bowen-Ellzey, N., Moss, M., Bond, C., Civittolo, D. (2015). Building Sustainability in Gas- and Oil-Producing Communities. Journal of Extension, Volume 53, Number 3, Article #3IAW1.
Bowen-Ellzey, N., Moss, M., Blaine, T. W. (2015). Creating a Model for Successful Microenterprise Development (MED) Programs. Journal of Extension, Volume 53, Number 1, Article # 1FEA7.
Blaine, T. W., Moss, M., Cumming, J., Myers, J. W. (2013). Comprehensive Land Use Planning in Exurban Communities: A Case Study from Ohio. Journal of Extension, Volume 51, Number 5, 5RIB5).
Peer Reviewed Bulletins
Comprehensive Planning based on Sustainability: A Model for Ohio Communities. Moss, M. L., (2016).
This Bulletin provides an overview of methods and a process to incorporate sustainability principles into comprehensive community planning. It is intended for local leaders, public officials and citizens so that they can use these concepts in their own community planning efforts. In order for the intended audience to understand how the theory of sustainability has influenced community planning, a definition of sustainable development and the key cornerstones of this theory are summarized. Finally, useful techniques and tools to incorporate these cornerstones into planning initiatives as well as a step-by-step outline of a process that can be used by a community is presented.