As this issue of FACS magazine was going to press, unthinkable terrorist attacks destroyed thousands of lives in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The damage inflicted on two icons of our way of life in the United States - the World Trade Center and the Pentagon continue to reverberate throughout our governmental, economic, communication and transportation systems, as well as in our relationships in families and communities.

   In response to this crisis, elements in the national character of the United States of America have come into sharper focus, including generosity toward those who suffer, mutual support, affirmation of freedoms, and strength found in spiritual beliefs from a variety of religious faiths. Leaders at the national level and in local communities guided the nation through the rituals of mourning. Our nation was joined in these expressions by people from all around the world, reinforcing the reality of globalization.

   Now, we turn our attention to the long-term task of dealing with the obvious as well as the insidious threats of terrorism. There is a role for family and consumer sciences professionals to play in responding to this crisis, just as we have responded in other times of crisis, such as the Great Depression, wars, and natural disasters. Information needed by families, consumers, and organizations is made readily available for community rebuilding efforts.

   Family and consumer sciences research is highly relevant to many of the issues facing our country today. Some examples:
    studies of what makes families resilient provide guidance for coping with crisis,
    research on children's fears offers help to parents, teachers, and child care providers as they reassure children,
    understanding consumer behavior in the face of uncertainty enables educators and financial counselors to offer alternatives for stable financial management,
    research on the role of stress on nutritional status alerts citizens to dietary adjustments they may need to make during times of crisis, and
    studies of the global marketplace in apparel, furnishings and food, and of the contributions of various countries and cultures to fashion and interior design, can help students and others gain an appreciation for the role of many groups in the international economy and avoid the tendency toward isolationism in a time of national crisis.

   The stories reported in this issue of FACS magazine reflect the synthesis of research and the application of knowledge in partnership with communities. Whether in ordinary times or in times of crisis, family and consumer sciences fulfills our mission of taking knowledge to the public.

   We are proud to include the Honor Roll of Donors in this issue. Thank you for supporting the alumni activities of the College and the enhancement programs for our students. Our development goals are ambitious because the needs are great. We truly appreciate your commitment in helping to achieve them.

   Seeing what family and consumer sciences professionals here in Georgia and across the nation are doing to help families respond to crisis makes me extremely proud to be a part of this profession. As alumni of a great institution, I hope you feel the same.

Sharon Y. Nickols,
Dean