Contact
Lisa Blecker – CEPEP Program Manager
Lisa Blecker – CEPEP Program ManagerExtension Specialist – Pesticide Safety Education
Lisa Blecker is the Administrator for the Pesticide Regulatory Education Program (PREP). She has been on faculty in the Department of Agricultural Biology at Colorado State University since August 2021. As the Pesticide Safety Educator, she delivers pesticide safety Train-the-Trainer programs for those who train fieldworkers and pesticide handlers throughout the state. She oversees the revision of study guides and exams for applicators seeking their private and commercial applicator certificates and licenses, delivers continuing education programs for pest management professionals statewide, and teaches an undergraduate course, Understanding Pesticides.
Prior to working at Colorado State University, Lisa was the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) Coordinator and the statewide pesticide coordinator with the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) for 10 years. She previously worked in the IPM Program at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension for three years and at the University of Idaho IPM Center for five years. Lisa has also worked with National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Research Foundation (NASDARF) to co-write the National Soil Fumigation Manual. Lisa received her master’s degree at Colorado State University in a joint program with the U.S. Peace Corps. She spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panamá during this master’s program and gained skills that have been invaluable to her career in Cooperative Extension.
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Sarah Hirnyck – Pesticide Outreach Specialist
Sarah Hirnyck – Pesticide Outreach SpecialistSarah Hirnyck has been the Pesticide Outreach Specialist in the Department of Agricultural Biology at Colorado State University since September 2021. She assists in the planning and development of the Pesticide Regulatory Education Program (PREP) courses and provides bilingual pesticide safety training programs for pesticide handlers, fieldworkers, and pesticide applicators throughout the state. Prior to working at Colorado State University, she was a Community Education Specialist for the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM).
Sarah has diverse educational programs experience. She spent two years in Panamá as a Peace Corps volunteer. She partnered with community members and government agencies to develop and implement community-based conservation programs. Sarah helped create connections and build sustainable relationships between the community and government agencies.
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
In person
Plant Science Building Room C211
Colorado State University
Fort Collins Campus
By mail
CEPEP
Colorado State University
1177 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523
By phone
(970) 491-6027