Cooperative Extension is an outreach arm of North Carolina State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and is in every county of the state. In most counties there is at least one Cooperative Extension Agent who focuses on Family and Consumer Sciences which means issues related to family life, finances, nutrition, and so on.  We also have five Extension Specialists who focus on issues related to family life.  Please look for us.  We would love to help you!

Click here to find your County Office and call the local phone number to speak with an FCS agent.

Meet our Extension Specialists:

Dr. Kim Allen serves as an Assistant Professor and Human Development Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University. Dr. Allen has the great opportunity of  supporting Extension Agents across North Carolina by partnering, designing, implementing and evaluating programs that foster healthy children, families and communities. Dr. Allen’s work at NCSU focuses on child and youth development, adolescent health, parenting, and relationship education.

Phone: (919) 515-9139  Email: kimberly_allen@ncsu.edu

Luci Bearon, PhD, CFLE
Associate Professor and Adult Development/Aging Specialist

Dr. Luci Bearon, a sociologist with more than 40 years in the field of gerontology, received her doctorate from Duke University in conjunction with the Center for the Study for Aging and Human Development. She joined the faculty at NCSU in 1995 to provide support to the counties on issues related to older adults and their families. Her focus areas are successful and healthy aging, family caregiving for older adults, and grandparents raising grandchildren. She represents NC Cooperative Extension on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging, has been an expert panelist for the Rosalynn Carter Institute of Caregiving, and has been named a Fellow of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

Phone: (919) 515-9146   Email: luci_bearon@ncsu.edu

Andrew O. Behnke, PhD, CFLE
Associate Professor and Human Development Specialist

Dr. Andrew Behnke serves as an Associate Professor and Human Development Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University and is an expert on  family and parenting issues. He conducts outreach efforts and applied research in the areas of stress and resilience, teen issues, gangs, academic achievement among  youth, parent involvement in academics, stress and parenting, and fatherhood.

Phone: (919) 515-9156 Email: andrew_behnke@ncsu.edu

Nichole Huff, PhD, CFLE
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Dr. Nichole Huff supports FCS and 4-H Extension Agents across North Carolina by collaborating with NCCE to design, implement, disseminate, and evaluate programs that foster healthy individuals, families, and communities. Dr. Huff’s work at NCSU focuses primarily on community youth development, biopsychosocial health, and interpersonal communication, specifically between the parent and child.

Phone: (919) 515-9155 Email: nichole_huff@ncsu.edu

Jenell Kelly, PhD
Family Life and Human Development Specialist

Dr. Jenell Kelly is the Family Life and Human Development Specialist for the Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She provides programming, training, and technical assistance in effort to promote the well being of individuals and families locally and nationally.  Dr. Kelly’s areas of foci are early childhood development and education, parenting, and family life education.

Phone: (336) 285-4665  E-mail: jkelly@ncat.edu