Staff

What We Believe

Our mission is to align research to needs and translate that research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. This blend of long-range focus and local accountability is a powerful strategy that ensures we stay true to our mission while we serve communities across the state.

Family and Consumer Sciences

Our team members represent the diverse field of family and consumer sciences that includes areas across human health and wellness. Extension programming focuses on human development, aging, personal and family finance, food science, nutrition, and community health.

Explore Our Impact

Jennifer McCaffrey

Family and Consumer Sciences Assistant Dean

Keywords

Nutrition

Health

Leadership

jmccaffr@illinois.edu

217-300-1799

Chelsey Byers

Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Specialist

Keywords

Administration

Aging

Brain Health

Caregiving

Chronic Diseases

Communication

Dementia Alzheimer’s

Elder Care

Family Life

Health

Health Care

Leadership Development

Managing Stress

Marketing

Mental Health

Mindfulness

Physical Activity

Professional Development CEU CPDU

Real Colors

Relationships

Resilience

Social-Emotional Health

Team Building

Trauma-Informed Adverse Childhood Experiences

Wellness

Workforce Development

Workplace Wellness

clbyers@illinois.edu

217-300-3930

Family Life

Sara Attig

Family Life Educator

Serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties

Keywords

Family Life

Managing Stress

Relationships

Social-Emotional Health

Mindfulness

sattig@illinois.edu

815-842-1776

Cheri Burcham

Family Life Educator

Serving Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby Counties

Keywords

Family Life

cburcham@illinois.edu

217-543-3755

Tessa Hobbs-Curley

Family Life Educator

Serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren Counties

Keywords

Family Life

Aging

Brain Health

Bullying

Caregiving

Dementia Alzheimer’s

Diabetes

Diversity Equity Inclusion Access

Early Childhood

Elder Care

Inclusion

Life Skills

Managing Stress

Mental Health

Mindfulness

Navigating Difference

Parenting

Real Colors

Relationships

Social-Emotional Health

Team Building

Teenagers

Time Management

Wellness

tessa@illinois.edu

(309) 837-3939

Molly Hofer

Family Life Educator

Serving Cook County

Keywords

Family Life

Aging

hoferm@illinois.edu

(773) 233-2900

Robin Ridgley

Family Life Educator

Serving Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson Counties

Keywords

Family Life

Brain Health

Aging

Chronic Diseases

Health

Managing Stress

Mindfulness

Real Colors

Relationships

Social-Emotional Health

Trauma-Informed Adverse Childhood Experiences

Wellness

rridgley@illinois.edu

(618) 993-3304

Kara Schweitzer

Family Life Educator

Serving Carroll, Lee and Whiteside Counties

Keywords

Family Life

Brain Health

Mental Health

Managing Stress

Caregiving

Mindfulness

kara7@illinois.edu

815-632-3611

Nutrition and Wellness

Kristin Bogdonas

Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness

Serving Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Stark Counties

Keywords

Nutrition Education

Food Safety

Diabetes

Herbs

Obesity Prevention

Food Preservation

Chronic Diseases

kmbogdo@illinois.edu

217-244-5274

Susan Glassman

Nutrition and Wellness Educator

Serving Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam Counties

Keywords

Food Safety

Food Preservation

Chronic Diseases

INEP

Nutrition Education

susang@illinois.edu

815- 224-0889

Kris Juelfs

Nutrition and Wellness Educator

Serving Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties

Keywords

Nutrition

Nutrition Education

Wellness

kjuelfs@illinois.edu

(618) 939-3434

Rachel Mannen

Nutrition and Wellness Educator

Serving Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion Counties

Keywords

Nutrition

Wellness

Child Nutrition

Chronic Diseases

Community Health

Food Safety

Healthy Cooking

Nutrition Education

rmannen@illinois.edu

(217) 333-7672

Caitlin Mellendorf

Nutrition and Wellness Educator

Serving DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties

Keywords

Nutrition

Diabetes

Food Safety

Food Preservation

Healthy Cooking

Healthy Eating

chuth2@illinois.edu

(217) 877-6042

Lisa Peterson

Nutrition and Wellness Educator

Serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin and Montgomery Counties

Keywords

Food Sanitation

Food Safety

Nutrition

Chronic Diseases

Food Preservation

Diabetes

Obesity Prevention

lap5981@illinois.edu

(217) 532-3941

Diane Reinhold

Extension Educator Nutrition and Wellness

Serving Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago

dreinhol@illinois.edu

815-235-4125

Jenna Smith

Nutrition and Wellness Educator

Serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties

Keywords

Nutrition

Child Nutrition

Nutrition Education

Diabetes

Food Preservation

Food Sanitation

Food Safety

jesmith6@illinois.edu

309-663-8306

Mary Liz Wright

Nutrition and Wellness Educator

Serving Clark, Crawford and Edgar Counties

Keywords

Nutrition Education

Nutrition

Food Preservation

maryliz@illinois.edu

(217) 826-5422

Integrated Health Disparities

Our team provides leadership and resources in the crusade to address health inequities. Our resources and public engagement focus on priority issues of health promotion and education, healthcare access, behavioral health, and community well-being.