Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Valerie Jarvis McMillan, Interim Chairperson

Objectives

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences prepares students for professional careers that focus on improving the quality of life of individuals and families in a diverse society. These careers include employment in educational institutions, service institutions, community and government agencies, design and manufacturing industries, and other companies and industries that influence the quality of life. Students are also prepared for graduate school and for medical professional schools.

Students in Family and Consumer Sciences are prepared to assist families in meeting their quality nutritional needs, understanding human development, developing skills in family and parent education, managing materials and human resources, and acquiring appropriate and affordable living environments. The Department prepares students to apply new technologies and creative discoveries in apparel design and food science to address the needs of a diverse and changing society. The Department also empowers students to think critically, to communicate ideas effectively, and to develop leadership skills in the profession.

Faculty in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences conduct research and engage in community activities that contribute to the body of knowledge in the areas of Child Development and Early Education, Food Science, Nutrition, Housing, Fashion Merchandising and Design, and Family Consumer issues. Furthermore, the Department has a commitment to provide continuing professional development for family and consumer sciences professionals that affects the quality of life of individuals, families and communities.

Degrees Offered

Child Development and Family Studies (Child Development and Family Relations) - Bachelor of Science
Child Development and Family Studies (Child Development and Family Studies B-K Licensure) - Bachelor of Science
Family and Consumer Sciences (Fashion Merchandising and Design) - Bachelor of Science
Family and Consumer Sciences (Consumer Sciences) - Bachelor of Science
Food and Nutritional Sciences (Food Science) - Bachelor of Science
Food and Nutritional Sciences (Human Nutrition) - Bachelor of Science

Minors Offered

Child Development and Family Studies
Family Financial Planning

General Program Requirements

The admission of students to the undergraduate degree programs in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is based upon the general admission requirements of the University.

Departmental Requirements

Majors in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and all of the concentrations must complete the required programs of course work. A minimum grade of “C” is required in all core and program area courses for graduation.

Accreditation

All programs in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences are nationally accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

The Child Development and Family Relations concentration is approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) to offer the Certified Family Life Education program.

The Child Development, Early Education, and Family Studies (B-K Licensure) concentration is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

The Family Financial Planning Certificate program is approved by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

The Food Science concentration is approved by the Institute of Food Technologists.

The Child Development Laboratory

The Child Development Laboratory (CDL) is licensed by the North Carolina Division of Child Development. It is primarily a teaching, learning, discovery, and servicing laboratory for students and faculty in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. The CDL is also available for use by students and faculty from other majors across the university that have an interest in child development, child behavior, special education, physical education, speech pathology, foreign language, social work, recreation, sociology, and other areas involving children and families. The CDL provides the opportunity for these students in their respective academic disciplines to make observational, instructional, evaluation, comparative and in-depth studies on child behavior and its related areas. The CDL embraces the “Creative Curriculum” which offers a variety of activities that integrate physical, intellectual, and social-emotional stimulation.

Career Opportunities

The programs in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences prepare students for, but do not limit them to, the following suggested careers as community/early childhood center providers, family specialists, child-care directors, sport and corporate wellness nutritionists, private practice, nutrition-related business and industries, nutritionists in hospitals and other health care facilities, researchers in universities and medical centers, financial planners, apparel designers, visual merchandisers, retail buyers, managers, sketch artists, product development specialists, global sourcing managers, food production management specialists, quality assurance specialists, technical sales, food inspection specialists, and researchers for federal, state, and local government.

Directory of Faculty

Ramine Alexander; Assistant Professor
B.S., Winston-Salem State University; M.S., Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Jennifer Mendoza Beasley; Assistant Professor
B.A., Yale University; M.S., Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Guibing Chen; Associate Professor
B.S., M.S., Dalian University of Technology; Ph.D., Purdue University

Heather L. Colleran; Associate Professor
B.S., University of North Carolina at Wilmington; M.S., University of Massachusetts; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Devona L. Dixon; Associate Professor
B.S., Southern A&M University; M.S., Colorado State University; Ph.D., Louisiana State University

Hao Feng; Blue Cross Blue Shield Endowed Professor
B.E., M.S., Dalian University of Technology; Ph.D., Washington State University

Valerie L. Giddings; Associate Professor and Interim Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
B.S., Bennett College; M.S., Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Salam A. Ibrahim; Professor
B.S., University of Mosul; M.S., University of Georgia; Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Geetika Jaiswal; Assistant Professor
B.S., N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology; M.S., G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology; Ph.D., University of Missouri

Hye Won Kang; Associate Professor
B.S., Dongduk Women’s University; M.S., Korea University; Ph.D., University of Connecticut

Sung-Jin Lee; Associate Professor
B.S., M.S., Chungnam National University; M.S., Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Valerie J. McMillan; Associate Professor and Interim Chairperson
B.S., M.Ed., South Carolina State University; Ph.D., Iowa State University

Elizabeth Newcomb Hopfer; Associate Professor
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Shengmin Sang; Professor
B.S., Shandong Normal University; Ph.D., Shanghai Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Roberta Claro da Silva; Assistant Professor
B.S., Paulista State University; M.S and Ph.D., Sao Paulo University

Reza Tahergorabi; Associate Professor
B.S., University of Sistan and Baluchestan; M.S., Azad University; Ph.D., West Virginia University

Leonard Williams; Professor and Director of the Center for Post-Harvest Technologies
B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; MBA, Wake Forest University; Ph.D., Alabama A&M University

Meeshay Williams-Wheeler; Associate Professor
B.S., University of North Carolina at Greensboro; M.S., North Carolina Central University; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jianmei Yu; Research Associate Professor
B.S., Yunnan Institute of Technology; M.S., South China University of Technology; Ph.D., Louisiana State University