She’s been at PVAMU less than three years, but the 4-H Program Specialist is making positive impacts in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences and in the Lone Star State. Just recently, peers of the Texas chapter of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) selected Dr. Jeffries to fill the office of President – Elect, for the 2015-2016 program year, beginning her tenure as President of the Affiliate on June 1, 2016. Previously, Jeffries served as Secretary of the Association. The Texas Affiliate is the largest association of family and consumer sciences professionals in the United States.
To her credit Dr. Jeffries, worked with other CAHS contemporaries and developed the One Kid At a Time (OKAT) livestock program for kiddos in K-12. In addition to learning responsibility in the OKAT program, students gain “touchy-feely” lessons on goat management skills and “rodeo show skills” while teens prepare for upcoming rodeo competitions.
Connecting professionals and touching lives are target initiatives for the national AAFCS body. Jeffries work amplifies this mission. Along with her colleagues, Dr. Jeffries developed the Design Studies curriculum, a new four-year degree program in the College. Jeffries also spearheads the Western Soiree Symposia, an informal platform where the university family and community gather at The Farm to learn about agricultural research initiatives and be inspired by a guest speaker during the luncheon. Dressing in cowboy & cowgirl garb, jolly attendees test their nimbleness at various skill-a-thon stations such as dummy cattle roping, horseshoe throwing, archery, goat-milking, and other “Agri” booths.
Since 2014, the 4-H and Youth Development Unit boasts a new workforce development program, The Career Smart Spotlight. Since that time, six students were hired in internship positions after attending the 4-H Career Smart Spotlight event. CAHS majors hired as interns in 2014 were Bruce Johnson and Brice Peterson. This years’ interns are Trayvon Barnett, Keith Hamilton, Bruce Johnson and Brice Peterson.
The Arkansas native is an advocate for student achievement and leadership. Providing the leadership for the San Antonio Livestock Exhibition (SALE) Scholars, she and the Scholars make road trips twice a year for volunteering at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and attending SALE’s annual board meeting.