- Associate Professor Emeritus
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Science Education, University of Iowa, 1997
- Master of Education (M.Ed.), with a focus in Curriculum, Planning, Evaluation, and Organizational Development, University of California-Davis, 1987
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Animal Science, University of California-Davis,1976
Biography
Dr. Gary Varrella is an Emeritus faculty member with Washington State University Extension and has served within the Extension Youth and Family Unit, specializing in youth and volunteer development. As the former Spokane County Director, he provided administrative leadership and support for 19 WSU and county staff and faculty in Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources programs, including SNAP-Ed and EFNEP.
Dr. Varrella has led comprehensive youth development programming in Spokane County, serving children and youth ages 5 to 19. His work has encompassed traditional 4-H programs as well as initiatives in STEAM education, military family support, and 4-H youth shooting sports. He has been actively engaged in adolescent leadership development aligned with the 4-H mission and has overseen adult volunteer development and supervision for more than 300 trained 4-H volunteers.
He brings extensive experience in both non-formal and formal education settings, working with youth across rural and urban communities. His expertise includes adult and teacher professional development, evaluation, research in learning theory and pedagogy, and international development, particularly in post-Soviet countries such as Armenia and Azerbaijan. Dr. Varrella has also worked extensively with military youth and families and has served as a partner or Co-Principal Investigator on several externally funded projects focused on youth nutrition and healthy living, as well as Principal Investigator on military youth and family development and STEM mentoring initiatives.
Dr. Varrella’s program has been involved with the National Mentoring Programs since NMP 2, and he has served as Principal Investigator for Washington’s NMP 9, 10, and 11.