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100 Years of FACS
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly known as the American Association of Home Economics), José Blanco (Assistant Professor, Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors) and Sharon Nickols (Professor, Housing and Consumer Economics) collaborated on an exhibition featuring clothing from the college’s historic costume collection and an array of other items associated with the early years of the profession.
At the University of Georgia, the origins of home economics date back to 1901, when “domestic arts” was taught at the state Normal School, a teaching school for women located in Athens. In 1918, co-education began at the University of Georgia when 13 women enrolled in the new Division of Home Economics in the College of Agriculture. One of the students Mary Creswell, was simultaneously a student and head of the division until she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics in 1919. The remaining 12 students earned their BSHE degrees in 1920. Included in the exhibition were the dress and chair (left) featured in a portrait of Creswell, who was named dean in 1931 when the Division of Home Economics became the School of Home Economics.
Learning, Leading, Making A Difference
Lance Palmer (Assistant Professor, Housing and Consumer Economics) has been named a 2009 recipient of the Richard B. Russell Undergraduate Teaching Award. The award recognizes excellence in undergraduate instruction at the University of Georgia by faculty early in their careers
Palmer arrived on campus in 2004, fresh from completion of his Ph.D. in consumer sciences at Utah State University. During his five years at UGA, he has served as the leader of the effort to establish the family financial planning emphasis in FACS. That effort has since led to the establishment of the FFP major and, most recently, the development of a non-thesis master’s degree in FFP.
As a teacher, Palmer has concentrated on combining classroom and real-world experiences for his students, including helping them develop a series of “Lunch-and-Learn” seminars they have presented to the UGA community and establishing a partnership with several community organizations that have resulted in students working with the Internal Revenue Service-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
Palmer is also known for emphasizing ethical decision-making. In a letter of support, one of his former students wrote: “I will always have the luxury of being able to approach any individual financial plan or client situation objectively and honestly because I was given the opportunity to learn how to do so under Dr. Palmer’s instruction.”
Rupured Named Hill Award Winner
Michael Rupured (Senior Public Service Associate, Housing and Consumer Economics) has been awarded a 2009 Walter B. Hill Award for Distinguished Achievement in University Public Service and Outreach.
Rupured has developed comprehensive financial education and training programs that impact youth, limited-resource audiences, young families, and senior citizens across the state of Georgia.
In addition to his work with FACS Cooperative Extension agents, Rupured also has arranged for family financial planning majors to provide credit-report consultations for Expanded Foods and Nutrition Educational Program staff and has helped place volunteers within county extension offices who have gone on to improve financial literacy programming in Clarke, Houston, Muscogee and Clayton counties.
He is the executive director of the Eastern Family Economics and Research Management Association and a past president and Distinguished Fellow of the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education.
Top Dawg
Courtney Kupets (Senior, Housing), made history this April by becoming the first collegiate gymnast to win an NCAA crown in all four events—all-around, bars, beam and floor. Kupets became the NCAA’s winningest gymnast in history when she captured nine individual NCAA titles during the national championship in Lincoln, Neb. Kupets, along with fellow FACS Gymdogs Kat Ding (Freshman, Fashion Merchandising), Cassidy McComb (Sophomore, Child and Family Development), Courtney McCool (Junior, Child and Family Development), and Gina Nuccio (Freshman, Consumer Journalism) helped the Gymdogs win their 10th national championship.
