Front row (l to r): Whitney Dodson, Amy Tyler, Teran Ransom Back row (l to r): Whitney Dyer, Jody Paver, Cecelia Hostilo, Lara Savage Not pictured: Amber Meeks

Front row (l to r): Whitney Dodson, Amy Tyler, Teran Ransom
Back row (l to r): Whitney Dyer, Jody Paver, Cecelia Hostilo, Lara Savage
Not pictured: Amber Meeks

Family and Consumer Sciences Extension is pleased to welcome seven new county Extension agents. The group spent July 13-15 on campus in Lexington participating in new agent orientation sessions.

Whitney Dodson is a May 2009 graduate of the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences. She has work experience in the Fayette County Extension office where she assisted the FCS agents with educational programming related to health and nutrition. She also has work experience as a nanny, a social work intern, and a child care provider. She began her Extension career on July 1 as the new FCS agent in Webster County.

Whitney Dyer is returning to her home county as the new Family and Consumer Sciences agent in Carter County. She holds a B.S. degree in Family and Consumer Science Education and is working on her M.A. in school administration at Morehead State University. She has most recently worked as a FCS teacher at Anderson County High School. Her professional development activities include membership in the Kentucky Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Cecelia Hostilo comes to Trigg County as Family and Consumer Sciences agent from a 28 year career as FCS and special education teacher in the public school system and related private agency employment. She holds a B.S. degree in vocational home economics and a M.A. in special education from Murray State University. She is a member of the Kentucky Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences and other professional development associations.

Amber Meeks is a December 2008 graduate of the University of Kentucky, School of Human Environmental Sciences.  She holds a B.S. degree in family and consumer sciences.  She worked two summers as an Extension intern in the Casey County Extension office.  Additional work experience includes child care, retail, and customer service.  Amber began her Extension career in McLean County in April 2009.  She is active in both community and professional development organizations, and was a collegiate FFA member and active in the American Association of Family and Consumer Scieneces student unit at UK.

Jody Paver began her teaching career seven years ago working as both Family and Consumer Sciences teacher and preschool teacher. She will continue her teaching career as FCS agent in Wayne County. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family studies with emphasis in nutrition and dietetics at Berea College. She also received a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and graduate hours at Spalding University. Jody is active in professional development organizations, especially the Kentucky Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences. In 2009 she was awarded the Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Award.

Teran Ransom is the new Family and Consumer Sciences agent in Hardin County. She worked as a food stamp nutrition education assistant in the Fayette County Extension office beginning in March 2008 and was an Extension intern in the Bourbon County office in the summer of 2007. She has additional work experience in the retail industry. She holds a B.S. in apparel design and merchandising from Eastern Kentucky University.

Lara Savage is no stranger to the Cooperative Extension Service. Before accepting the Family and Consumer Sciences agent position in Monroe County, she was the 4-H/ Youth Development agent in neighboring Tennessee. She holds a B.S. in Human Ecology from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. Her area of concentration is in food, nutrition, and dietetics. She was on the Dean’s list from 2003 to 2006. Savage is an active member of AAFCS and the 4-H agents’ professional association.

Amy Tyler is a December 2004 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin in Family and Consumer Sciences with concentration in secondary education. She has worked since graduation as Consumer Science teacher in the Hickman County and Fulton Independent school systems. She also has experience as a substitute teacher. Amy is the new Family and Consumer Sciences agent in Fulton County.