July 5, 2023
K-State Research and Extension agent inaugurated president of national association
Deb Andres, Geary County K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences agent, was inaugurated as president of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences on June 26 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the organization's national conference.
As president, Andres will preside over biweekly board of directors meetings, advance the work of the association through presentations and advocacy, support the implementation of the association's strategic plan, maintain existing and future partnerships with organizations that share the family and consumer science common core values, and chair the association's 2024 national meeting being held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences is the only professional association dedicated to family and consumer sciences students and professionals from multiple practice settings and content areas. The association facilitates connections among family and consumer science professionals across multiple practice settings and content areas, including human development and family studies, foods and nutrition, health and well-being, personal family finance, financial management, housing, interior design, textiles, apparel, consumer issues and more.
Following her tenure as president, Andres will serve an additional year on the board of directors as past president and assume the role of chair of the organization's Past President Unit.
"My education, student association involvement and career experiences through Kansas State University have cultivated the leader in family and consumer sciences I have become," Andres said.
She earned her bachelor's degree in home economics education with a vocational endorsement in 1988 and her master's degree in family studies and human services in 1997 — both from Kansas State University. Following nearly 14 years in the high school classroom, Andres became a faculty member with K-State in 2005.
Prior to her current position with K-State Research and Extension, Andres served as an instructor in the College of Education at K-State, teaching pre-service teachers in secondary education core teaching methods and supervising family and consumer science education students during their student teaching experience.