The Kentucky Association of State Extension Professionals presented annual awards and honors on March 28, 2013. Four awards were presented to faculty and staff from the School of Human Environmental Sciences.

Dr. Ingrid Adams, Assistant Extension Professor in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition received the Outstanding New Extension Faculty Award. Dr. Adams joined the Extension faculty in December 2007. Much of her Extension work has focused on chronic disease prevention and management through nutrition and healthy lifestyle. She has developed a curriculum titled “Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes.” Dr. Adams chairs the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension initiative focus on making healthy lifestyle choices. She is active in professional associations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Laura Stephenson, Sandra Bastin, Ingrid Adams and Ann Vail
Laura Stephenson, Sandra Bastin, Ingrid Adams and Ann Vail

Dr. Kerri Ashurst, Senior Extension Specialist with Family and Consumer Sciences Extension received the Outstanding Extension Specialist Award. Dr. Ashurst serves as the Children, Youth and Families-at-Risk State Coordinator; National Children, and Youth and Families Education and Research Network Program Manager; and as the Kentucky Operation: Military Kids State Director. For the past five years, she has served as the Kentucky Operation: Military Kids Camp Initiative Director. Dr. Ashurst is a skilled grant writer, talented project manager, and dedicated professional.

Laura Stephenson, Kerri Ashurst and Ann Vail
Laura Stephenson, Kerri Ashurst and Ann Vail


Leslie McCammish, Extension Associate with Nutrition Education Programs in Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, received the Outstanding Extension Associate Award. McCammish joined the Nutrition Education Programs in March 2009. Her duties focus on data collection, management, reporting and marketing for the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program Education grant. She has provided leadership for the development of a new system for collecting program data from more than 450 Extension professionals, and developed a system to collect data from teachers engaged in special classroom projects. McCammish has been active with the Kentucky Association of State Extension Professionals, serving as a board member and as secretary of the organization.

Ann Vail, Leslie McCammish, Debra Cotterill, and Laura Stephenson
Ann Vail, Leslie McCammish, Debra Cotterill, and Laura Stephenson


The Managing in Tough Times (MITT) Initiative was recognized with the Outstanding Project Award. The MITT Initiative was developed in response to the economic recession that impacted the United States beginning in 2007. Through the MITT Initiative, Extension has worked to assist Kentuckians in understanding and identifying the financial practices which made them vulnerable during the recessionary period. In addition, programming has focused on helping individuals and families to be better prepared to address their “new” financial realities. Leadership for the initiative is provided by Dr. Jennifer Hunter, Assistant Extension Professor, Department of Family Sciences; Jeanne Davis, Extension Program Coordinator; and Katie Keith, Extension Associate for Family Finance.

Laura Stephenson, Jeanne Davis, Jennifer Hunter, Katie Keith, and Ann Vail
Laura Stephenson, Jeanne Davis, Jennifer Hunter, Katie Keith, and Ann Vail