Prompted by difficulties in specialist recruitment and retention, this study sought to determine the kinds of role expectations held by Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agricultural and home economics specialists themselves, as well as by CES administrators, subject matter department heads, supervisors (district agents), and county Extension agents. On the basis of differences in educational background, duties, and immediate superiors, eight separate position groups were defined and examined. A two part questionnaire comprising 70 functional items (activities and approaches) and 39 attitudinal items was developed and administered to all 829 professional staff members of the CES at Texas A&M University. Four hypotheses were tested: (1) expectations as to the specialist role differ significantly among CES occupations and positions; (2) concepts drawn from role theory can be used to determine these expectations; (3) a specialist role definition acceptable to all CES position groups, can be synthesized; (4) the "stimulator-consultant" role, rather than that of expert or troubleshooter, has emerged as the dominant or preferred approach among specialists. All four hypotheses were accepted, with some reservations in the case of Hypothesis 4. (LY)