Lyla Houglum accepted the permanent position of Dean of Extended Education and Director of the Extension Service December 1, 1995, after serving an interim appointment since January 1, 1995.
Houglum previously served as associate director for counties with the Oregon State University Extension Service, a position she held since 1990. She joined the OSU faculty in 1985 as an Extension 4-H youth development specialist.
As a part of the state 4-H staff, Houglum provided leadership for volunteer leader development, among other responsibilities. She served on the board of the Oregon Family Community Leadership program. She was in the original 4-H Executive Development Institute, conducted by the US Department of Agriculture, which had a class of 55 Extension professionals from throughout the United States.
She began her Extension career as an Extension agent in Ravalli County in her native state of Montana. She earned her undergraduate degree from Montana State University and her advanced degrees in speech communication from the University of Oregon.